as in unacceptable
falling short of a standard
an unsatisfactory first attempt at building a birdhouse
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unsatisfactory
In their eyes, the global economy is to blame for their unsatisfactory job prospects, feminism is to blame for their failures with women, minority rights are forcing them to relinquish their privilege as straight men, and so on.
—
Miriam Eve Mora, The Conversation, 3 Apr. 2026
But the results were unsatisfactory.
—Chiara Kim, PEOPLE, 1 Apr. 2026
The state had made changes, including cutting off new licenses and provider enrollments in more than a dozen programs at high risk for fraud, but federal officials initially found the changes unsatisfactory.
—Alex Derosier, Twin Cities, 21 Mar. 2026
Hence, utilitarianism is unsatisfactory as a theory of justice, and another theory must be sought.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unsatisfactory
Miriam Eve Mora, The Conversation, 3 Apr. 2026
But the results were unsatisfactory.
—Chiara Kim, PEOPLE, 1 Apr. 2026
The state had made changes, including cutting off new licenses and provider enrollments in more than a dozen programs at high risk for fraud, but federal officials initially found the changes unsatisfactory.
—Alex Derosier, Twin Cities, 21 Mar. 2026
Hence, utilitarianism is unsatisfactory as a theory of justice, and another theory must be sought.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unsatisfactory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unsatisfactory
Adjective
-
For a city in the grip of a housing crisis, that delay was unacceptable.—
Michelle de la Uz,
New York Daily News,
13 May 2026
-
Bans on unacceptable-risk AI have applied since February 2025, according to the European Commission.—
Chas Newkey-Burden,
TheWeek,
11 May 2026
Adjective
-
Harper opened a small dance studio, on Forty-sixth Street; business was poor until Bradley was hired and revamped Delroy’s act.—
Brian Seibert,
New Yorker,
13 May 2026
-
Still vehicle electronics can be damaged from reverse polarity, poor or wrong connection points or voltage spikes from improper equipment.—
Hartford Courant,
Hartford Courant,
12 May 2026
Adjective
-
The challenge these proposals aim to address is real — but trying to hold back the tide is the wrong answer.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
10 May 2026
-
In a 4-3 ruling, the court said the legislature followed the wrong process for putting the question, an amendment to the state constitution, on the ballot.—
Larry Kaplow,
NPR,
9 May 2026
Adjective
-
And getting all giddy over some lame light beer that has apple juice poured into to is just plain embarrassing.—
Zach Dean OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
24 Apr. 2026
-
This idea that just sitting with your face buried in your phone when you’re supposed to be in a social setting—that’s lame, right?—
Charlie Warzel,
The Atlantic,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Fast forward to mid-May, and the Astros are, well, bad.—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
11 May 2026
-
Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has resulted in the loss of nearly a billion barrels of oil, with the shortage growing worse every day the sea lane remains closed.—
Azhar Sukri,
CNBC,
10 May 2026
Adjective
-
All babies are born deficient in vitamin K, which is vital to blood clotting, and cannot form what are called clotting factors, or substances in the body that help stop bleeding naturally.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
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Effect sizes are modest for healthy adults but meaningful for those who are deficient.—
Allison Palmer,
Sacbee.com,
7 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unsatisfactory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unsatisfactory. Accessed 14 May. 2026.
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