unsuccessful
adjective
un·suc·cess·ful
ˌən-sək-ˈses-fəl 
: not successful : not meeting with or producing success
Examples of unsuccessful in a Sentence
His last novel was unsuccessful.
an unsuccessful attempt to fix the faucet ourselves
Recent Examples on the Web
Sites used a breaching tool to break the car's window after attempts to break the window with a baton were unsuccessful.
—
Jesse Zanger, CBS News, 17 Nov. 2025
An appeal by Wright regarding the outcome of the investigation was reportedly previously unsuccessful.
—Becca Longmire, PEOPLE, 17 Nov. 2025
Terrelonge said his attempts to get full legal custody of Gabrielle were unsuccessful.
—Nicquel Terry Ellis, CNN Money, 15 Nov. 2025
Peter Skandalakis, director of the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia, appointed himself to lead the case Friday after an unsuccessful, weekslong effort to find an outside prosecutor willing to take it.
—Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 14 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unsuccessful
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Jesse Zanger, CBS News, 17 Nov. 2025
An appeal by Wright regarding the outcome of the investigation was reportedly previously unsuccessful.
—Becca Longmire, PEOPLE, 17 Nov. 2025
Terrelonge said his attempts to get full legal custody of Gabrielle were unsuccessful.
—Nicquel Terry Ellis, CNN Money, 15 Nov. 2025
Peter Skandalakis, director of the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia, appointed himself to lead the case Friday after an unsuccessful, weekslong effort to find an outside prosecutor willing to take it.
—Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 14 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unsuccessful
Cite this Entry
“Unsuccessful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unsuccessful. Accessed 23 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
unsuccessful
adjective
un·suc·cess·ful
ˌən(t)-sək-ˈses-fəl
: not successful : not having or producing success
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