unsatisfactory

adjective

ˌən-ˌsa-təs-ˈfak-t(ə-)rē How to pronounce unsatisfactory (audio)
Definition of unsatisfactorynext
as in unacceptable
falling short of a standard an unsatisfactory first attempt at building a birdhouse

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 unsatisfactory Babcock Park Pool received an unsatisfactory rating in January for a similar equipment violation. — Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 22 Aug. 2026 That will be an understandably unsatisfactory answer for many fans, but there are still too many questions the coaches can’t answer. — Josh Kendall, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026 Ships must score 86 or above to pass inspection — while a score of 85 or below is considered unsatisfactory, the CDC noted. — Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 18 Aug. 2026 The redhead, Betty Mayfield, is the most unsatisfactory aspect of the book. — Literary Hub, 23 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for unsatisfactory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unsatisfactory
  1. unacceptable
  2. poor
  3. wrong
  4. lame
  5. bad
  6. deficient
Adjective
  • The idea of not spending evenings with my kid is, kids are, is completely unacceptable.
    — Michael Birnbaum The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 14 Oct. 2026
  • OpenAI took months to discover the incident and notify the Australian agencies affected — that’s unacceptable by my standard.
    — Rumman Chowdhury, Vogue, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of unacceptable
Adjective
  • Europe is expected to have a particularly poor corn harvest and needs larger imports just as its demand for feed remains high.
    — Jenni Reid, CNBC, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Reese is known as a poor shooter, and is often mocked for missing easy shots in games.
    — Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of poor
Adjective
  • British police acknowledged applying for the warrants under the wrong statutory provision, the judge said while stipulating that the misconduct investigation against the king's brother could continue.
    — Steve Hendrix, Washington Post, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Doctors in Tennessee and Republican state senators called for the state to pause executions, because the chances of one going catastrophically wrong were so high.
    — Maya Foa, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of wrong
Adjective
  • Blumenthal hopes to see action on KOSA in the lame-duck session.
    — Lisa Hagen, Hartford Courant, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Only to see them, after winning elections, get strong-armed by the party, then offer lame excuses as to why.
    — Colleen Kujawa, Chicago Tribune, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of lame
Adjective
  • But then came the nightmare of Game 3, one of the Sox’s worst performances in weeks.
    — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Specifically, people with worse fever tended to have more of a protein called flagellin in their systems than those with little to no fever.
    — Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of bad
Adjective
  • There’s lots of neutral hues available but the sunny yellow will brighten up any window-deficient bathroom.
    — Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 6 Oct. 2026
  • To help with hair regrowth, Bauman often recommends nutrient-dense meals rich with protein, healthy fat and the trace minerals that, when deficient, can lead to hair loss.
    — Maggie Ryan, Flow Space, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of deficient

Browse Nearby Words

unsatisfactoriness
unsatisfactory
unsatisfied
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Unsatisfactory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unsatisfactory. Accessed 15 Oct. 2026.

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