1
as in disappointing
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
2
as in insufficient
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
1
as in failing
to fall short in satisfying the expectation or hope of
a restaurant serving portions that will not dissatisfy even the heartiest eater
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in displeasing
to make discontented
an administrative assistant dissatisfied by her meager paycheck
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 dissatisfying
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
Tim Cowlishaw, Dallas Morning News, 5 Jan. 2026
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
Verb
His 2-3 playoff record came after a long dissatisfying postseason stretch from Chan Gailey (0-2), Bill Parcells (0-2), Phillips (1-2) and before McCarthy (1-3).
—Tim Cowlishaw, Dallas Morning News, 5 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dissatisfying
Adjective
-
This one, coming off the back of two hugely disappointing, trophy-ending, and potentially derailing defeats, was one of their best of the season.—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2026
-
In his new report, Brinkman cites Tesla’s disappointing deliveries—just 358,000 vehicles for Q1—then uses that number to spotlight the giant and growing historical disparity between the market’s vast hyper-bullish expectations and Tesla’s actual underwhelming performance.—
Shawn Tully,
Fortune,
7 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
When Mecklenburg District Attorney Spencer Merriweather’s office tossed the case against Graves on March 4, citing insufficient evidence and revisiting his original alibi, officers had not announced any other arrests.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Simply calling out Altman as someone to cheer for or root against feels insufficient, even as some people do that (especially the latter one).—
Steven Zeitchik,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
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
-
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
-
Arsenal were pretty poor but won, Sporting were pretty good but lost.—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Ackman blamed its poor share price performance partly on the delay of UMG’s listing in the United States.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Sometimes, rage bait can be relatively harmless – a recipe that contains disgusting food combinations or someone annoying their pet, partner or sibling.—
Issy Ronald,
CNN Money,
1 Dec. 2025
-
But what’s been annoying me even more is that these women should have been trained by producers to start recording on their own cell phones if drama starts to unfold after cameras go down.—
Tom Smyth,
Vulture,
12 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
The storm let up before daybreak, but the morning was gray and cheerless with a cold wind.—
Elwyn "Bud" Myers,
Outdoor Life,
11 Mar. 2026
-
This episode is disappointingly cheerless overall—it’s not frosted, tinsely, glowing, silver with bells and mist, or snowy.—
Jenny Singer,
Glamour,
3 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
UConn's hopes at becoming the first team since John Wooden's UCLA dynasty to win three titles in four seasons came up short, done in by massive foul trouble and its own terrible shooting.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
7 Apr. 2026
-
The Waterfront Park and pier are short blocks away, as are multiple churches, historic house tours, museums, the Gibbes art collection, and King Street retail shopping.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Oklahoma City is irritating, but never stops winning.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Those with extra-sensitive skin often find success with Vanicream, which is free of irritating ingredients such as dyes, fragrance, formaldehyde and lanolin.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dissatisfying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dissatisfying. Accessed 11 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
