as in unacceptable
falling short of a standard an unsatisfactory first attempt at building a birdhouse

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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 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 Add the mobile Maiava to the mix and USC might just have a recipe for gaining ground on last season’s unsatisfactory seven-win season. Mirjam Swanson, Oc Register, 31 Aug. 2025 Clubs can check one of five boxes that range from unsatisfactory performance to personal conduct that adversely affects the club. Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 25 July 2025 Spain also enforces a two-step feedback process: a channel for reporting barriers or requesting information and a formal complaints procedure for unsatisfactory responses. Ran Ronen, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for unsatisfactory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unsatisfactory
Adjective
  • Violence anywhere, especially in a place of worship, is unacceptable.
    James Bickerton, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Other Republicans — especially in the House — see it as an unacceptable expansion of President Barack Obama’s signature health care law, which Republicans have tried to eliminate or cut back since it was enacted 15 years ago.
    Preston Fore, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Similar protests occurred in Brazil over steep living costs and poor healthcare and education ahead of the country hosting the 2014 World Cup tournament.
    Connor Greene, Time, 2 Oct. 2025
  • Over time, dysfunctional breathing reinforces poor posture and scapular instability.
    Dana Santas, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • There’s something wrong with them right away.
    Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 5 Oct. 2025
  • Mike McDaniel said Wright did nothing wrong, but Miami needed more bodies on defense and special teams.
    Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 5 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Another main issue is that the power grind itself now being the endgame is no longer a good motivator to play, nor is the Tier system with 3s not much different than 4s or 5s, and all past weapons being somewhat lame now outside of that system entirely.
    Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
  • Paine proposed a lump sum payment of £15 (£2,306 in 2025) to everyone reaching the age of twenty-one and a £10 (£1,537 in 2025) annual pension for the blind and lame, as well as for those fifty and older.
    Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The game didn’t start bad for the Giants.
    Dan Duggan, New York Times, 6 Oct. 2025
  • Apparently, Grier forgot his own words, because the lines that the Dolphins have built are collectively their worst this decade, something evident in a crushing 27-24 loss to Carolina, a game in which Miami blew a 17-0 lead.
    Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 5 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Will his shooting and floater game give enough offensive jolt to add some real spacing around a roster that, even with Kevin Durant, seems notably deficient in terms of spacing?
    John Hollinger, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
  • Miami’s edge rushers also have been deficient against the run this season.
    Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 28 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Unsatisfactory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unsatisfactory. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.

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