unsuitable

adjective

un·​suit·​able ˌən-ˈsü-tə-bəl 

: not fitting or right for a use or purpose : not suitable

an unsuitable choice

unsuitable topics for conversation

unsuitability

ˌən-ˌsü-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

unsuitability for the job

unsuitably

ˌən-ˈsü-tə-blē 

adverb

unsuitably dressed

Synonyms

• amiss
• graceless
• improper
• inapposite
• inappropriate
• inapt
• incongruous
• incorrect
• indecorous
• inept
• infelicitous
• malapropos
• perverse
• unapt
• unbecoming
• unfit
• unhappy
• unseemly
• untoward
• wrong

Examples of unsuitable in a Sentence

all the movies playing now are violent or otherwise unsuitable for a child's birthday party

Recent Examples on the Web

This is due to the fact that research shows that distilled water, which is what our devices produce before mineralization, may be unsuitable for prolonged consumption. —Joe Salas june 09, New Atlas, 9 June 2025

The family-friend label came a cropper after it was slapped with a multi-million-dollar copyright lawsuit by Disney, Warner Bros. and other major Hollywood studios for making unauthorized cuts – of scenes deemed unsuitable for family viewing by the brothers – to their movies and series. —Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 3 June 2025

Corn is an unsuitable companion plant for peppers due to its towering size. —Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 5 Apr. 2025

Any useless, toxic or otherwise unsuitable man can become a child’s legal father, without being subject to the thorough checks that these women must face. —Catherine Bray, Variety, 23 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1586, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for unsuitable

• mutable
• suitable
• computable
• disputable
• immutable
• imputable
• inscrutable
• executable
• indisputable
• irrefutable
• substitutable

Kids Definition

unsuitable

adjective

un·​suit·​able

ˌən-ˈsüt-ə-bəl,

ˈən-

: not suitable or fitting : unbecoming, inappropriate

unsuitably

-blē

adverb