Definition of unacceptablenext
as in wrong
falling short of a standard this work is entirely unacceptable

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 unacceptable But others in Silicon Valley think that Altman’s behavior has created unacceptable managerial dysfunction. Ronan Farrow, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026 Annan said ignoring the language’s origins is what’s unacceptable. Moriah Humiston, NBC news, 3 Apr. 2026 The thought of being limited to a choice between two Republicans — or two Democrats — for governor is unacceptable and un-American. George Skelton, Mercury News, 3 Apr. 2026 Even in the absence of any proven crime committed by Tisch, even in the naivest retelling or understanding of Tisch’s correspondences with Epstein, his unacceptable relationship with this man deserves censure. Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 1 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unacceptable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unacceptable
Adjective
  • Sometimes that’s totally wrong, because people are overestimating their kids or underestimating Joan Mitchell or whomever.
    Andrew Marantz, New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2026
  • Or show off the Sombor Shuffle with an 11-footer off the wrong foot.
    Troy Renck, Denver Post, 5 Apr. 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
Adjective
  • But large-scale remedies, such as finding alternative sources of revenue like a general tax increase to offset property tax cuts, are less likely when lawmakers and Pritzker are seeking reelection — though political pressures are lessened after the November general election in a lame-duck session.
    Rick Pearson, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026
  • This struck me as heartbreakingly lame and, therefore, as a moment of vital consequence.
    Amanda Peet, New Yorker, 21 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Gas and diesel prices have soared since the start of the Iran war, but the situation could get even worse later this year because of ethanol requirements and problems with fertilizer supply chains.
    E.J. Antoni, Boston Herald, 6 Apr. 2026
  • Flattening the curve—making bad floods somewhat less bad—feels achievable.
    Eric Klinenberg, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Zack James’ shifty drumming hammers out a drum ’n’ bass redux like a panicked heartbeat while Carney Hemler’s bass lurches in slow motion, replicating the gut drop of a horrible realization.
    Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 3 Apr. 2026
  • Fendelman captured that horrible silence in the doc, punctuated by Littlejohn’s niece screaming, feral and raw.
    Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • At that point, something terrible, something on the scale of the Maidan protests in Ukraine in 2014, is not inconceivable.
    Kapil Komireddi, New Yorker, 10 Apr. 2026
  • Between some horrendous screw-ups, terrible decision-making, and some plain old bad luck, their situation, and that of their mother, Linda Morelli (Laurie Metcalf), who is running for mayor, only gets worse.
    Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • But in 2026, that savings account has been woefully deficient.
    Imtiaz Rangwala, The Conversation, 1 Apr. 2026
  • Most were sterilized because they were believed to be mentally ill or mentally deficient.
    Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • The only way to pull out of an awful season-opening stretch is one at-bat, one pitch, one win at a time.
    Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026
  • Still, outside of two games, the offense has been awful.
    Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 8 Apr. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Unacceptable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unacceptable. Accessed 11 Apr. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on unacceptable

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