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
The recent attempt to pursue a dog park at the Osuna and reclassify the property to use class H for semi-public uses was unsuccessful.
—
Karen Billing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 May 2025
Police tried to contact the woman but were unsuccessful, the complaint says.
—Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 20 May 2025
One of those in the huddle, state Sen. Christine Cohen, D-Guilford, was Lopes’ predecessor as chair of the Environment Committee and had worked on several previous and unsuccessful efforts to ban neonicotinoids and rodenticides.
—John Moritz, Hartford Courant, 16 May 2025
Some lawmakers tried to add a one-year delay in implementation to another bill right before the session adjourned, Government Technology reported, but were unsuccessful.
—Megan Poinski, Forbes.com, 15 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for unsuccessful
Karen Billing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 May 2025
Police tried to contact the woman but were unsuccessful, the complaint says.
—Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 20 May 2025
One of those in the huddle, state Sen. Christine Cohen, D-Guilford, was Lopes’ predecessor as chair of the Environment Committee and had worked on several previous and unsuccessful efforts to ban neonicotinoids and rodenticides.
—John Moritz, Hartford Courant, 16 May 2025
Some lawmakers tried to add a one-year delay in implementation to another bill right before the session adjourned, Government Technology reported, but were unsuccessful.
—Megan Poinski, Forbes.com, 15 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for unsuccessful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unsuccessful
Adjective
-
Cutting spending wasted on a futile pursuit of a global empire is not just a fiscal necessity.—
Ron Paul,
Oc Register,
20 May 2025
-
Desperate Steve Kerr frequently toggled his non-Draymond Green big men as late as the second round of the playoffs in a futile effort to contain the giants of the Minnesota Timberwolves around the rim.—
Alex Kirschenbaum,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 May 2025
Adjective
-
The character who can go through walls is useless, because beyond the walls is nothing but dirt.—
Katy Waldman,
New Yorker,
24 May 2025
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For one, any melasma treatment is practically useless without them.—
Jenny Berg,
Allure,
24 May 2025
Adjective
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Despite being hurt by a number of abortive early stabs at voice recognition in decades gone by, voice recognition when done well can actually provide a uniquely direct way of accessing content and features on modern TVs.—
John Archer,
Forbes.com,
13 May 2025
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The military establishment was especially sensitive to criticism at the time – less than a month after the abortive revolt by Wagner mercenary group boss Yevgeny Prigozhin.—
Katharina Krebs,
CNN Money,
15 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unsuccessful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unsuccessful. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.
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