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

But if younger officials are constantly kept on the sidelines, the system can become unsustainable. — Julian G. Waller, Foreign Affairs, 7 Aug. 2026

Burry has been among Wall Street’s most outspoken skeptics of the artificial intelligence boom, arguing that demand for AI infrastructure is being fueled by financing arrangements that may prove unsustainable. — Anniek Bao, CNBC, 6 Aug. 2026

Hardworking people whose jobs have never provided health benefits and who have long purchased coverage on their own, only to find premiums and out-of-pocket costs becoming unsustainable. — Rocky McCormick, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Aug. 2026

Originally allowing customers to choose specific charities, the model became unsustainable as annual giving grew from $53,000 to over $2 million, leading to uneven distributions. — Afdhel Aziz, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 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