as in unacceptable
falling short of a standard
an unsatisfactory first attempt at building a birdhouse
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 unsatisfactory
Russell Miller, a spokesperson for the labor union, referred Bay Area News Group to statements on its website that call Kaiser’s pay offer unsatisfactory because of historic, post-pandemic inflation that drove up living costs for workers.
—
Grant Stringer, Mercury News, 14 Oct. 2025
Sainz and Williams initiating a right of review protest four days later revived my feeling that his penalty was an unsatisfactory outcome, regardless of the rules.
—Alex Kalinauckas, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
Even then, the results are often unsatisfactory for your (once) vibrant white shirts.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 3 Sep. 2025
The county faces at least 19 lawsuits claiming that conditions are unsatisfactory and that medical and mental health care are inadequate in the jails.
—Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unsatisfactory
Grant Stringer, Mercury News, 14 Oct. 2025
Sainz and Williams initiating a right of review protest four days later revived my feeling that his penalty was an unsatisfactory outcome, regardless of the rules.
—Alex Kalinauckas, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
Even then, the results are often unsatisfactory for your (once) vibrant white shirts.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 3 Sep. 2025
The county faces at least 19 lawsuits claiming that conditions are unsatisfactory and that medical and mental health care are inadequate in the jails.
—Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unsatisfactory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unsatisfactory
Adjective
-
Not making payments to them for even another day is simply unacceptable.—
Katherine Faulders,
ABC News,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Hufanga deemed that first-quarter Jeanty touchdown unacceptable because any touchdown is unacceptable at this point to Denver’s defense.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
The Ministry of Environment blamed this year’s surge on a poor acorn harvest – which drove a similar spate of attacks in 2023.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Rather, the slow start (by Ovechkin’s standards) to this season seemed due more to poor puck luck.—
Sean Gentille,
New York Times,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
While most plot details remain under wraps, The Hollywood Reporter previously revealed that one plot point centers on the son of Stiller and Polo’s characters, who gets engaged to a ball-busting woman who seems all wrong for him.—
Carly Thomas,
HollywoodReporter,
2 Nov. 2025
-
The right kiss will save them, but the wrong one will kill them.—
Brittany Johnson,
PEOPLE,
2 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
The flowers are the best, even if the leaves are lame and flop over.—
Joshua Siskin,
Oc Register,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Cut to Culhane doing lame bits with chopsticks as walrus teeth.—
Gil Kaufman,
Billboard,
24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Democrats are favored to win both gubernatorial races this year, so a GOP upset in either state would be a bad sign for the party currently locked out of power in Washington.—
Zac Anderson,
USA Today,
2 Nov. 2025
-
Nick Saban certainly made more good decisions than bad ones during his run to seven national championships as a college football coach.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
2 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
That isn't because Buffalo is more deficient at wideout than other positions, with reasonable talents like Keon Coleman, Khalil Shakir and Joshua Palmer all serving in starting roles.—
Max Dible,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Oct. 2025
-
In the meantime, Jones has been carrying a run-deficient offense to the tune of 313 yards per game — the most in the NFL.—
Jerry McDonald,
Mercury News,
16 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unsatisfactory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unsatisfactory. Accessed 9 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share