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 How far will this go before anyone starts saying this is unacceptable? — David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2026 How in the world is this unacceptable situation being allowed to continue? — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 8 Sep. 2026 But the gap on display Saturday night is unacceptable for Swinney’s program. — Seth Emerson, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026 Jon Cherry / Getty Images Ramaswamy called the incident on Sunday unacceptable. — CBS News, 6 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
  • But asking whether the problem is useful is the wrong question, Verhoeff argues.
    — Emma R. Hasson, Scientific American, 5 Sep. 2026
  • That opening stunk, what was wrong with the traditional start of the show?
    — Zach Dean OutKick, FOXNews.com, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of wrong
Adjective
  • The following season, Chelsea topped their Champions League group, but poor Premier League form saw Mourinho sacked in mid-December.
    — Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Many are in poor shape, with thin, uninsulated walls, leaky windows, old or broken swamp coolers and electrical systems that can't always handle air conditioners.
    — Alejandra Borunda, NPR, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of poor
Adjective
  • Respondents questioned Dave Aranda’s roster construction, the program’s lack of identity and why everybody is pretending this isn’t a lame-duck season.
    — Manny Navarro, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Post-election powers Keisha Lance Bottoms has a message for Republicans who might be tempted to limit her powers in a lame-duck special session if the Democrat wins the race for governor in November.
    — Adam Beam, AJC.com, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of lame
Adjective
  • Jeffrey Katzenberg, then a studio executive at Paramount Pictures, hand-picked the Happy Days star for the job, but at the time, Winkler had a bad feeling about accepting it.
    — Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 11 Sep. 2026
  • How many of us make things worse More seasoned Internet users—a fair number who read this site—are quick to dismiss the attack.
    — Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of bad
Adjective
  • Turkish football is a chaotic, infuriating, sometimes horrible but always entertaining place.
    — Nick Miller, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
  • The defense says their client had no control over her fatal actions despite the clear planning of the horrible event.
    — Dominic Patten, Deadline, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of horrible
Adjective
  • McDaniel is an expert communicator — and terrible at communicating with modern devices.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Before the terrible day was over firehouses, street corners and parks became mourning places.
    — Robert W. Snyder, New York Daily News, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of terrible
Adjective
  • Yet researchers have found that nearly a third of adults in the United States are iron deficient.
    — Anahad O’Connor, Washington Post, 27 Aug. 2026
  • In a deficient area, the exception is exposed, and to last, the exception must be exceptional somewhere else.
    — Zach Berman, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of deficient
Adjective
  • To Morrison, as well as to the filmmakers, this awful backstory makes something cathartic of his accomplishment.
    — Guy Lodge, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026
  • So the fact that there was this whole section of gay actors who weren’t allowed to do that is awful.
    — Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of awful

Browse Nearby Words

unacceptability
unacceptable
unacceptably
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Cite this Entry

“Unacceptable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unacceptable. Accessed 13 Sep. 2026.

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