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 unsuccessful The defense tried to fight the motion but were ultimately unsuccessful. Chris Spargo, People.com, 24 June 2025 Black then attempted to deploy her emergency parachute, but was unsuccessful due to the low altitude. Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 24 June 2025 Barca even took a legal case against the regulations to a Catalan court but were unsuccessful. Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 19 June 2025 Their efforts were unsuccessful, paving the way for Read's retrial this spring. Rachel Treisman, NPR, 18 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for unsuccessful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unsuccessful
Adjective
  • The regime’s tyrannical efforts to control and extinguish their savings were futile against their newfound freedom money.
    Mauricio Di Bartolomeo, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025
  • The researchers said their findings should not suggest afforestation and carbon offsetting are futile.
    Hayley Smith, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2025
Adjective
  • The price signals are useless because the government prohibited them from being useful.
    The Editors, National Review, 30 June 2025
  • The devices must also give consumers the option of deactivating such features, unless that action would render the device useless.
    Andrew Brown, Hartford Courant, 24 June 2025
Adjective
  • Microsoft is well-positioned to run a redo of Valve's abortive Steam Machines effort, only this time without the performance headaches and limited library of Linux ports that plagued that effort.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 18 June 2025
  • In the abortive March 2022 draft deals, Russia even expressed a willingness to return to preinvasion lines.
    Fred Weir, Christian Science Monitor, 30 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Unsuccessful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unsuccessful. Accessed 14 Jul. 2025.

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