as in futile
producing no results
an unsuccessful attempt to fix the faucet ourselves
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unsuccessful
Previous efforts to pass a federal anti-SLAPP measure have been unsuccessful.
—
Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 25 Sep. 2025
Thus far, the search has been unsuccessful, although many believe she would have been buried near the royal palace in Alexandria, Egypt.
—Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 24 Sep. 2025
Her felony charges were a point of contention in the Senate during two legislative sessions, prompting ethics hearings, hours of floor debate, and unsuccessful efforts to expel her.
—Ingrid Harbo, Twin Cities, 24 Sep. 2025
Attempts to identify the woman were unsuccessful at the time, but detectives were able to obtain a DNA profile from the victim and enter it into a national DNA database.
—Jenna Sundel, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unsuccessful
Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 25 Sep. 2025
Thus far, the search has been unsuccessful, although many believe she would have been buried near the royal palace in Alexandria, Egypt.
—Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 24 Sep. 2025
Her felony charges were a point of contention in the Senate during two legislative sessions, prompting ethics hearings, hours of floor debate, and unsuccessful efforts to expel her.
—Ingrid Harbo, Twin Cities, 24 Sep. 2025
Attempts to identify the woman were unsuccessful at the time, but detectives were able to obtain a DNA profile from the victim and enter it into a national DNA database.
—Jenna Sundel, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unsuccessful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unsuccessful
Adjective
-
But the job search proved futile, partly due to visa uncertainties and the impacts of the Department of Government Efficiency.—
David Ferrara,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
30 Sep. 2025
-
Truly, skimping on this step will render everything else futile.—
Essence,
Essence,
23 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
But having 10 power play opportunities also made the game somewhat useless.—
Arpon Basu,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
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With her charger useless and the screen showing a dangerously low percentage, the reality sank in.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Even as Nintendo has endlessly mined its classic consoles for nostalgic re-releases in recent decades, the company has seemed to completely ignore the existence of the Virtual Boy—its abortive 1990s dip into the world of early virtual reality.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Our main girl, Diva, is a diva down, forced into abortive encounters with the A.I. that stands, literally, between the goods and services supportive of her everyday life.—
Lauren Michele Jackson,
New Yorker,
23 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unsuccessful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unsuccessful. Accessed 5 Oct. 2025.
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