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

Social Security protects retirees from poverty, but at an unsustainable cost. — Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 16 July 2026

Fans will grumble if prem teams don’t feature in the league cup or teams with European football don’t play in the FA Cup, but the current schedule is unsustainable. — Nnamdi Onyeagwara, New York Times, 13 July 2026

For many residents in this district, housing costs have become unsustainable, with many renters spending over 50% of their income on housing alone according to the National Institutes of Health. — Dale V.c. Holness, Sun Sentinel, 9 July 2026

As with the bears 30 years ago, the mustangs’ population has grown to unsustainable levels, becoming a threat to the desert and the lake itself, at least according to the Bureau of Land Management. — Steve Searles, Mercury News, 8 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