as in futile
producing no results
an unsuccessful attempt to fix the faucet ourselves
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Recent Examples of unsuccessful
Some players – like Cardinals catcher Pedro Pagés, who has called for four unsuccessful challenges behind the plate – have yet to win an ABS challenge.
—
Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 31 Mar. 2026
Attempts to renegotiate a nuclear deal (after the collapse of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action [JCPOA]) in 2025 and 2026 were unsuccessful.
—Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 31 Mar. 2026
Shreve ran an unsuccessful campaign for Indianapolis mayor in 2023, losing to incumbent Mayor Joe Hogsett.
—Marissa Meador, IndyStar, 30 Mar. 2026
Many worked for Republican campaigns or were previously unsuccessful Republican political candidates.
—Helen Branswell, STAT, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unsuccessful
Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 31 Mar. 2026
Attempts to renegotiate a nuclear deal (after the collapse of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action [JCPOA]) in 2025 and 2026 were unsuccessful.
—Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 31 Mar. 2026
Shreve ran an unsuccessful campaign for Indianapolis mayor in 2023, losing to incumbent Mayor Joe Hogsett.
—Marissa Meador, IndyStar, 30 Mar. 2026
Many worked for Republican campaigns or were previously unsuccessful Republican political candidates.
—Helen Branswell, STAT, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unsuccessful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unsuccessful
Adjective
-
But past attempts to achieve similar solutions proved futile.—
Jace Frederick,
Twin Cities,
4 Apr. 2026
-
But the question of what is true or not is futile, even if Calle deliberately provokes this curiosity.—
Elisa Wouk Almino
Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Architects and other critics of the project had panned the staircase as too large and basically useless since there was no way to enter the ballroom at the top.—
Darlene Superville,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Apr. 2026
-
In practice, this means a madhouse of multimedia rooms, packed with gurgling videos and useless machines and humanoid bodies.—
Zachary Fine,
New Yorker,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Google’s Tripartite Advantage Google has been more successful than Meta in fintech due to a strategic focus on utility, infrastructure, and user trust, whereas Mark Zuckerberg’s firm has struggled with trust issues and regulatory hurdles, particularly with the abortive Diem project.—
Zennon Kapron,
Forbes.com,
1 Feb. 2026
-
In October, the Miami Herald reported on abortive negotiations — also involving Qatar — in which Rodríguez proposed leading a transitional government if Maduro agreed to step aside and retire to a prearranged safe haven.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
23 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unsuccessful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unsuccessful. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
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