unsustainable

adjective

un·​sus·​tain·​able ˌən-sə-ˈstā-nə-bəl 

: not capable of being prolonged or continued : not sustainable

unsustainable agricultural practices

unsustainable growth

unsustainability

ˌən-sə-ˌstā-nə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

unsustainably

ˌən-sə-ˈstā-nə-blē 

adverb

an unsustainably high rate of growth

Examples of unsustainable in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Lessons from Singapore and Japan Singapore and Japan are demonstrations of how rising healthcare costs are not the same thing as unsustainable healthcare costs. — Runchana Pongsaparn, Fortune, 31 July 2026

If your current work has become unsustainable, will this new environment be meaningfully different? — Kathy Caprino, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026

That community is now telling its Board, in the clearest terms available, that the current path is unsustainable. — Elizabeth Cooney, STAT, 28 July 2026

Meanwhile, top players, who tend to go deep at these longer events, say the calendar is increasingly unsustainable despite the financial benefits attached. — Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 25 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1677, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for unsustainable

• attainable
• explainable
• maintainable
• obtainable
• sustainable
• ascertainable
• unattainable
• unexplainable
• unobtainable
• trainable