dissatisfying 1 of 2

dissatisfying

2 of 2

verb

present participle of dissatisfy

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
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
  • Just over a month later, in Prague, Malinin moved past his disappointing Olympic performance and earned his third consecutive world-championship title.
    Alice Park, Time, 9 June 2026
  • Overall, Maas observes the mood among insiders was better at this year’s event compared to last year, when the games sector was hit by layoffs and disappointing releases.
    Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 9 June 2026
Adjective
  • Congested dormitories, a lack of emergency exits and insufficient firefighting equipment have often contributed to loss of life and extensive damage.
    ABC News, ABC News, 12 June 2026
  • In regulated and mission-critical environments, capability alone is insufficient.
    Srini Attili, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
Verb
  • But many Spotify users voiced displeasure at the change-up, with some complaining that the disco ball looked pixelated on a small phone screen and, generally, was visually displeasing.
    Todd Spangler, Variety, 12 June 2026
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
Adjective
  • The second didn’t go nearly as well for Bussi as Karlsson and Howden scored on two of the Golden Knights’ six shots in the period to tie the score at 3-3 heading into the third, the tying goal coming off a Seth Jarvis turnover and a couple of poor defensive plays by Sean Walker and K’Andre Miller.
    Michael Russo, New York Times, 10 June 2026
  • Heat radiates from the pages of this extraordinary novel about a poor family in rural Mississippi in the days leading up to Hurricane Katrina.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 9 June 2026
Verb
  • Weird; annoying even – but the floaters did not seem urgent.
    Peter Ubel, Forbes.com, 20 May 2026
  • My biggest concern about adding a tracking device around Mya’s neck was annoying her or creating disruption.
    Tyler Hayes, PC Magazine, 13 May 2026
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
  • Anyone hoping to see intricate short passing has been sorely disappointed thus far.
    Andrew Greif, NBC news, 16 June 2026
  • An affordable wellness retreat typically falls in the budget-to-mid-range tier, roughly $1,000 to $2,000 for a week-long stay, or under $500 per night for shorter trips.
    Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 June 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Dissatisfying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dissatisfying. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on dissatisfying

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster