disappointing 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of disappointingnext
1
as in saddening

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Dissimilar Words
2
as in inadequate

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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
Last season was the most disappointing of all, because the Lightning were good enough to beat the Canadiens. — Scott Turick, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 July 2026 The Giants have had their share of controversies during their disappointing first half. — Christian Babcock, Mercury News, 10 July 2026
Verb
Months later, Saka was disappointing away to Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League and replaced by Madueke on the hour mark. — Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 26 June 2026 And yet, the comfortable resolution in the parting note feels all too schematic, like an after-school special; disappointing in a film that gives us something a lot more complex until then, including an excellent intervention scene between a defensive Garance and her theater troupe. — Tomris Laffly, Variety, 17 May 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
  • The result is a bonus both surprising and saddening.
    — Bob Brody, Baltimore Sun, 9 May 2026
  • 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
Definition of saddening
Adjective
  • Boating accidents are a regular occurrence in the Southeast Asian nation, where extreme weather, frequent flooding and inadequate maintenance have led to tragedies.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 13 July 2026
  • Experts say the high death toll may reflect factors common to past entertainment venue fires, including inadequate safety measures.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 13 July 2026
Definition of inadequate
Verb
  • The blue deluge within the party swept more moderate Democrat Mills from the race in April before the first ballot was cast, but now centrist figures of her ilk cast blame on progressives for failing to heed Platner's problems.
    — Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 9 July 2026
  • His approach has drawn criticism from ​some Sikh groups, who accuse Ottawa of failing to hold India accountable or safeguard Sikh Canadians from foreign interference and transnational repression.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 8 July 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
  • Drought covered virtually the entire Plains, destroying crops with deficient rainfall, high temperatures, high winds, insect infestations and dust storms.
    — Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 4 July 2026
  • Many people included in these studies may not have been deficient in vitamin D or calcium to begin with.
    — Lindsay Curtis, Verywell Health, 1 July 2026
Definition of deficient
Verb
  • Rather than being the abusive, manipulative and ultimately homicidal husband that prosecutors alleged, Sabatini described Millete as a tragic figure who was being emotionally and psychologically abused and gaslit by his cheating wife.
    — Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 July 2026
  • After getting caught cheating during a crew battle by using members from other gaming crews, I was blacklisted by the 3DS community for a couple of months.
    — Kenneth Okeke, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 July 2026
Definition of cheating
Adjective
  • Tracy provided another discouraging injury update over the weekend in Anaheim as well, telling reporters that first baseman Triston Casas suffered yet another setback and has been shut down from hitting due to a wrist issue.
    — Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 7 July 2026
  • Still, this was a discouraging result for anyone wearing yellow in Kansas City.
    — Kellis Robinett, Kansas City Star, 21 June 2026
Definition of discouraging
Adjective
  • Over the last 15 years, employees have increasingly sued large employers over unnecessarily high fees or inferior investment options.
    — Paul Kiel, ProPublica, 8 July 2026
  • The results have invariably been uglier, longer, inferior versions of films people already know and love, which provide a cheap rush of nostalgia but don’t offer any surprises or challenges.
    — Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 8 July 2026
Definition of inferior

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Cite this Entry

“Disappointing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disappointing. Accessed 16 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on disappointing

Nglish: Translation of disappointing for Spanish Speakers

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