as in futile
producing no results
an unsuccessful attempt to fix the faucet ourselves
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unsuccessful
After several unsuccessful attempts, officers decided to force their way in, Hennie said.
—
David Ferrara, Cincinnati Enquirer, 29 Oct. 2025
But after the loss, manager Dave Roberts was clear about the reason the team was unsuccessful.
—Peter Chawaga, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2025
After numerous appeals — which have been unsuccessful — Drew began campaigning for a new trial; In April 2024, his request was denied by a judge, per NBC Chicago.
—Alex Gurley, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 2025
Collins died after two weeks stuck while other cavers mounted unsuccessful rescue attempts.
—Graham Averill, Outside, 28 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unsuccessful
David Ferrara, Cincinnati Enquirer, 29 Oct. 2025
But after the loss, manager Dave Roberts was clear about the reason the team was unsuccessful.
—Peter Chawaga, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2025
After numerous appeals — which have been unsuccessful — Drew began campaigning for a new trial; In April 2024, his request was denied by a judge, per NBC Chicago.
—Alex Gurley, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 2025
Collins died after two weeks stuck while other cavers mounted unsuccessful rescue attempts.
—Graham Averill, Outside, 28 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unsuccessful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unsuccessful
Adjective
-
Meanwhile, over on the blanket, Hine and Lemmon begin a rather futile attempt to teach the rest of us backgammon.—
Hannah Jackson,
Vogue,
30 Oct. 2025
-
Understanding each other is futile.—
Jake Coyle,
Boston Herald,
24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Pattinson plays the character’s increasingly useless husband.—
Zack Sharf,
Variety,
5 Nov. 2025
-
My French was useless—I was also considered a tourist by association.—
Lane Nieset,
Travel + Leisure,
2 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Even as Nintendo has endlessly mined its classic consoles for nostalgic re-releases in recent decades, the company has seemed to completely ignore the existence of the Virtual Boy—its abortive 1990s dip into the world of early virtual reality.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
12 Sep. 2025
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Our main girl, Diva, is a diva down, forced into abortive encounters with the A.I. that stands, literally, between the goods and services supportive of her everyday life.—
Lauren Michele Jackson,
New Yorker,
23 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unsuccessful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unsuccessful. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.
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