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 Altman said his response was unsatisfactory to him and others because Musk said perhaps his controlling shares and votes should pass to his children. — Ashley Capoot, CNBC, 12 May 2026 That was unsatisfactory to Trump, who has wanted to oust Powell for years. — David Goldman, CNN Money, 24 Apr. 2026 Meta's attempt to resolve the bloc’s antitrust investigation of WhatsApp by charging third-party AI companies for access is unsatisfactory, the European Commission said Wednesday. — ABC News, 15 Apr. 2026 Ultimately, the merger with Compaq did not live up to expectations, and after years of unsatisfactory earnings reports the HP board of directors demanded chair and CEO Carly Fiorina step down, a move that jumpstarted shares in HP stock. — Chris Anderson, USA Today, 15 Apr. 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
  • Critics say such plans are wholly unacceptable because light pollution from so many large, bright satellites would radically degrade views of the night sky.
    — Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 16 July 2026
  • For the union, this is unacceptable and yet another issue their members are facing.
    — Carmela Karcher, CBS News, 14 July 2026
Definition of unacceptable
Adjective
  • Madrid had a poor 2024-25, failing to win the Spanish title or the Champions League, but Mbappe still scored 42 goals in 44 appearances.
    — Tim Spiers, New York Times, 21 July 2026
  • Using Neanderthal cranium shapes to estimate specific brain regions’ volume, some investigators claimed to see signs of a mind with feeble linguistic abilities, poor executive function and an unremarkable memory.
    — Cody Cottier, Scientific American, 20 July 2026
Definition of poor
Adjective
  • First, the medals were the wrong colour; this was the ‘Bronze Final’ after all.
    — Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 19 July 2026
  • That turned out to be wrong for a meaningful minority of them, whose brains were generating signals our methods were not sensitive enough to pick up.
    — Torie Bosch, STAT, 18 July 2026
Definition of wrong
Adjective
  • But instead of playing kingmaker, the lame-duck governor has refused to get behind a candidate to succeed him.
    — Romy Ellenbogen Herald, Miami Herald, 6 July 2026
  • Stronger and more flavorful than in your original lame iteration?
    — Padgett Powell, Harpers Magazine, 30 June 2026
Definition of lame
Adjective
  • Shouldn’t Tamra take that as a sign to repair her relationships with the women rather than alienate the one person who is willing to look past her bad behavior?
    — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 17 July 2026
  • That statistic shows that hotels did worse with the World Cup than without it initially.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 17 July 2026
Definition of bad
Adjective
  • The Supreme Judicial Court later concluded that the Attorney General’s summary was legally deficient because of the language her office inserted — and removed the question from the ballot.
    — Robert Cordy, Boston Herald, 19 July 2026
  • The same logic would apply to a service member who is truly hormone deficient — replacement therapy could help.
    — Dr. Jamin Brahmbhatt, CNN Money, 16 July 2026
Definition of deficient

Browse Nearby Words

unsatisfactoriness
unsatisfactory
unsatisfied
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Cite this Entry

“Unsatisfactory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unsatisfactory. Accessed 23 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on unsatisfactory

Nglish: Translation of unsatisfactory for Spanish Speakers

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