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

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

The root cause of the drop is fear that hyperscalers’ 67% jump in AI capital expenditures to $650 billion may be unsustainable. — Peter Cohan, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026

Amid these developments, some artists in Hollywood are finding the job more and more unsustainable. — Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 7 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