disappointing 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of disappointingnext
1
as in saddening

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Dissimilar Words
2
as in inadequate

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

disappointing

2 of 2

verb

present participle of disappoint
as in failing
to fall short in satisfying the expectation or hope of they were disappointed by the outcome of the big game

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 disappointing
Adjective
After finishing the 2025 season with a 90-72 record and advancing to the seventh game of the ALCS against Toronto, the Mariners missed the playoffs with a disappointing 76-86 record this season. — Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2026 After three consecutive years of Spanish films taking the Golden Shell, this year marks a slightly disappointing turnout for the home team. — Guy Lodge, Variety, 26 Sep. 2026
Verb
Shares of the electric vehicle maker plunged 15% on Thursday after disappointing quarterly earnings. — Sean Conlon,joseph Wilkins,justina Lee,lee Ying Shan,fred Imbert, CNBC, 23 July 2026 Wilder kept his diagnosis private from the public, in hopes of not disappointing his. — Niya Doyle, PEOPLE, 19 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for disappointing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disappointing
  1. saddening
  2. inadequate
  3. failing
  4. dissatisfying
  5. deficient
  6. cheating
  7. discouraging
  8. inferior
Adjective
  • Actor Chadwick Boseman died of colon cancer at 43, shocking and saddening fans.
    — USA TODAY, USA Today, 11 Aug. 2026
  • The result is a bonus both surprising and saddening.
    — Bob Brody, Baltimore Sun, 9 May 2026
Definition of saddening
Adjective
  • But even that compression feels inadequate to the demands of the mind that would rather eliminate all the fires of today.
    — Bill Koch, Forbes.com, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Within the review’s findings were that Mayich didn’t receive proper hydration and had inadequate medical care after collapsing.
    — Scott Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of inadequate
Verb
  • Another act of retaliation, the lawsuit says, is that after applying for assistant chief of technical services, Dougan was rejected for allegedly failing to meet a new suppression-credential requirement.
    — Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Baldwin alleged that decision was just one part of a pattern of disturbing prosecutorial abuses, including presenting false information to the grand jury, failing to disclose two firearms reports, and filing an unlawful gun enhancement.
    — Gene Maddaus, Variety, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of failing
Adjective
  • The Erika plot is one of the several dissatisfying threads in this episode.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 14 Nov. 2025
  • 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
Definition of dissatisfying
Adjective
  • High base, cuts to public capex for meeting fiscal deficit targets and the impact of deficient rains on sowing patterns are some of the key reasons the brokerage expects India’s growth to slow over the next few quarters.
    — Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 14 Sep. 2026
  • There is nonexistent depth, disastrous allocation of resources and a roster so deficient that the general manager who constructed it has already been dismissed.
    — Chandler Rome, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2026
Definition of deficient
Verb
  • The company remains one of the world’s largest automakers and carries the legacy of Dieselgate, the emissions-cheating scandal that cost it billions of dollars in fines, settlements and other penalties.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2026
  • At the same time, as families pour more resources into preparing young people for the exams, frequent cheating scandals and test cancellations can make their investment moot.
    — Aakash Hassan, Christian Science Monitor, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of cheating
Adjective
  • His fellow scientists are neither comforting nor discouraging.
    — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Then a rough 2025, a crowded rotation in 2026 and a discouraging bullpen stint led Pfaadt back to Reno.
    — Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of discouraging
Adjective
  • The Chiefs went on to emerge victorious 24-10, but like the offense, the defense’s focus now will be identifying how an inferior team that lost its star player early managed to stay involved until late in the fourth quarter.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 27 Sep. 2026
  • The same can be said for TCU’s offense as well after the past two games against inferior opponents.
    — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of inferior

Browse Nearby Words

disappointed
disappointing
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Cite this Entry

“Disappointing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disappointing. Accessed 4 Oct. 2026.

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