as in useless
not capable of being put to use or account
a completely unusable gadget that's just taking up space in the drawer
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of unusable
Cynthia Campbell, with the Oklahoma Coalition for Affordable Housing, said many vacant properties are technically valuable, located near schools, jobs and retail, but functionally unusable.
—
Stephen Martin, Oklahoma Watch, 24 Mar. 2026
Her old septic system was not designed to handle the soggy soil in her leach field, rendering the system unusable for six months out of the year.
—Tim Carter, Hartford Courant, 21 Mar. 2026
Our goal is to hire a seamstress who can re-create things for us from those unusable items.
—Sandra Barrera, Daily News, 20 Mar. 2026
Controlled irrigation, pesticides and new fertilizers can turn once-unusable land into farms.
—Arkansas Online, 19 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unusable
Stephen Martin, Oklahoma Watch, 24 Mar. 2026
Her old septic system was not designed to handle the soggy soil in her leach field, rendering the system unusable for six months out of the year.
—Tim Carter, Hartford Courant, 21 Mar. 2026
Our goal is to hire a seamstress who can re-create things for us from those unusable items.
—Sandra Barrera, Daily News, 20 Mar. 2026
Controlled irrigation, pesticides and new fertilizers can turn once-unusable land into farms.
—Arkansas Online, 19 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unusable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unusable
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
-
But the brief, costly, impractical service still became one of the most romanticized episodes in American history—a legacy wildly disproportionate to its lifespan.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
1 Apr. 2026
-
The creator notes the concept suits cabins, RVs, and off-grid structures particularly well — anywhere grid ties are impractical or expensive.—
Munis Raza,
Interesting Engineering,
24 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
He was accused of creating spectacle and of designing spaces unsuitable for art.—
Norman Foster,
Artforum,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Goan cobras are migrating to new and unsuitable habitats by train.—
Rafil Kroll-Zaidi,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unusable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unusable. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
