1
as in saddening
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Dissimilar Words
2
as in inadequate
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Dissimilar Words
as in failing
to fall short in satisfying the expectation or hope of
they were disappointed by the outcome of the big game
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of disappointing
Jeff Gable, AJC.com, 8 Mar. 2026
The lack of neutrality was surprising and deeply disappointing.
—Andrea Levine O’Rourke, Sun Sentinel, 8 Mar. 2026
Dan Vergano, Scientific American, 13 Feb. 2026
The state ended the program and redirected $18 million originally earmarked for it toward electric car incentives, disappointing some advocates.
—Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for disappointing
Adjective
Lady Wolfpack sophomore guard Kenzie Hinkson said her team has used last season’s disappointing finish — being upset in the region title game and again in the second round of the state tournament — to motivate them throughout this year’s postseason.
—Jeff Gable, AJC.com, 8 Mar. 2026
The lack of neutrality was surprising and deeply disappointing.
—Andrea Levine O’Rourke, Sun Sentinel, 8 Mar. 2026
Verb
Alongside calls for research on cell-phone-signal effects on health and vaccine injuries, the report went light on investigating pesticides and the food industry, disappointing some environmental figures.
—Dan Vergano, Scientific American, 13 Feb. 2026
The state ended the program and redirected $18 million originally earmarked for it toward electric car incentives, disappointing some advocates.
—Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for disappointing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disappointing
Adjective
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The backlash from certain parts of the media has been extremely saddening, particularly given how hard John works to raise awareness and understanding.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
23 Feb. 2026
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Gates has assembled a stimulating, illuminating, maddening, saddening, but often inspiring, story of their relations with the world and one another.—
Robert Lloyd,
Twin Cities,
7 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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About 120,000 people are in 580 overcrowded shelters with inadequate sanitation.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
13 Mar. 2026
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Trump also warned the House GOP that their existing version of the bill is inadequate.—
Lisa Mascaro,
Twin Cities,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Most likely, several ships over the centuries encountered the same treacherous conditions while attempting to dock, ultimately failing to navigate the passage, as per Libya Review.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Mar. 2026
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Americans fear outliving their savings as much as any other potential retirement setback, including failing health, according to research from the Transamerica Center.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
14 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The Erika plot is one of the several dissatisfying threads in this episode.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
14 Nov. 2025
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Last season, the Bruins strung together three wins against Rutgers, Nebraska and Iowa – but that team resembled Chip Kelly’s decent-if-dissatisfying regime.—
Mirjam Swanson,
Oc Register,
13 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Yet users find forest maps deficient, trail signs dilapidated, campgrounds closed and information scarce.—
Evan Mills,
Mercury News,
15 Mar. 2026
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The city’s Department of Transportation and Infrastructure, or DOTI, was seen as most deficient among operators and brokers.—
Miguel Otárola,
Denver Post,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The incident came a couple of weeks after the sport was in the headlines during the Olympics as the Canadian team was accused of cheating.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Mar. 2026
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Billionaire Ronald Burkle is suing political power-broker Darius Anderson, accusing his former protégé and friend of cheating him out of millions of dollars.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Ninth-grader Kallan Forsyth said the strict dress code can feel discouraging, but earning sneaker day feels rewarding.—
Alexa Liacko,
CBS News,
2 Mar. 2026
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My own watch party got off to a discouraging start.—
Steven P. Dinkin,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
1 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
He was made to feel inferior because of his difficulties.—
Stuart Miller,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Mar. 2026
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Sloppy, hasty automation, which replaces workers with inferior machines, is everyone’s loss.—
Lila Shroff,
The Atlantic,
10 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Disappointing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disappointing. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026.
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