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

Singh Cassidy warned that the market is currently cluttered with unsustainable business models. —Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 22 Dec. 2025

As a result, the complaint alleged that the company reported Hey Dude revenue numbers in 2022 that were not indicative of actual retail demand for Hey Dude shoes and, over the longer term, were entirely unsustainable. —Stephen Garner, Footwear News, 22 Dec. 2025

Speakers described data centers as unsustainable and harmful to health, especially to the lungs, and said communities should not be sacrificed for the profits of large technology companies. —Christopher Harris, CBS News, 16 Dec. 2025

Military spending has become a fundamental part of Russia’s economy—and an increasingly unsustainable one. —Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Time, 16 Dec. 2025

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