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unacceptable

adjective

ˌən-ik-ˈsep-tə-bəl How to pronounce unacceptable (audio)
Definition of unacceptablenext
as in wrong
falling short of a standard this work is entirely unacceptable

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 Predominantly African American communities should not be expected to tolerate conditions that government has concluded are unacceptable in downtown Baltimore. — Lawrence Bell, Baltimore Sun, 15 Sep. 2026 Immigrant and human-rights advocates called the situation unacceptable, particularly given the dangers facing returning Haitians, including gang killings and surging kidnappings. — Gérard Maxineau, Miami Herald, 11 Sep. 2026 That’s an unacceptable delay for units in active combat operations. — Nir Goldstein, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2026 The fact that they were printed as direct quotes from me is unacceptable and untenable. — Zac Ntim, Deadline, 9 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unacceptable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unacceptable
  1. wrong
  2. poor
  3. lame
  4. bad
  5. horrible
  6. terrible
  7. deficient
  8. awful
Adjective
  • Pagan remains wrong, sophisticated argumentation notwithstanding.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 25 Sep. 2026
  • The tech leaders warned about the risk of humans losing control of AI systems and of the systems getting into the wrong hands.
    — Jack Moore, ABC News, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of wrong
Adjective
  • Renovation will only yield temporary improvement unless the original cause of a poor-quality lawn is remedied.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 19 Sep. 2026
  • The consequences of a poor performance in the takeaway department sets a very high standard for rookies, something that can only bode well for the future.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of poor
Adjective
  • As Trump slides toward lame-duck status, cleavages within the group and between it and traditional progressives are becoming more salient.
    — David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 18 Sep. 2026
  • The next big issue for me was that Axl shimmied from side to side with an unusual snakelike move that struck me as effeminate and lame.
    — Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of lame
Adjective
  • This problem will only get worse, with new cancer cases projected to increase 67% by 2050.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 25 Sep. 2026
  • In a world where true-crime shows of both the fictional and nonfictional variety run rampant on our screens, that’s probably not a bad corporate strategy.
    — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of bad
Adjective
  • Doubs had a horrible debut in the league’s season opener last week against the Seattle Seahawks.
    — Daniel Popper, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026
  • By the time of the horrible accident in 1829, the deodand was on its way out.
    — Amelia Soth, JSTOR Daily, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of horrible
Adjective
  • After a terrible start in Week 1, Denver’s stingy defense returned to form.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Eventually, Håkan is forced to participate in this omnipresent bloodshed, at a terrible cost to his soul and his reputation.
    — Kathryn Schulz, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of terrible
Adjective
  • High base, cuts to public capex for meeting fiscal deficit targets and the impact of deficient rains on sowing patterns are some of the key reasons the brokerage expects India’s growth to slow over the next few quarters.
    — Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 14 Sep. 2026
  • There is nonexistent depth, disastrous allocation of resources and a roster so deficient that the general manager who constructed it has already been dismissed.
    — Chandler Rome, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2026
Definition of deficient
Adjective
  • The Colts got whacked by the Ravens, and their new-look defense was awful.
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 20 Sep. 2026
  • In one respect, John Harbaugh seems to have brought winning football back to New York New Jersey Stadium; conversely, the Cowboys’ defense is sufficiently awful to make even the lowliest opponent look like a contender.
    — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of awful

Browse Nearby Words

unacceptability
unacceptable
unacceptably
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Unacceptable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unacceptable. Accessed 27 Sep. 2026.

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