as in futile
producing no results
an unsuccessful attempt to fix the faucet ourselves
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 unsuccessful
The Herald’s efforts to reach Landa prior to publication were unsuccessful.
—
Kevin G. Hall, Miami Herald, 7 Nov. 2025
Lifesaving measures were unsuccessful and the woman was declared dead at the scene.
—David Matthews, Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2025
The city’s unsuccessful Measure E last year also would have raised $400 million annually.
—Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Nov. 2025
Doctors spent weeks trying to locate the bullet lodged in Garfield's body, but were unsuccessful.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unsuccessful
Kevin G. Hall, Miami Herald, 7 Nov. 2025
Lifesaving measures were unsuccessful and the woman was declared dead at the scene.
—David Matthews, Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2025
The city’s unsuccessful Measure E last year also would have raised $400 million annually.
—Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Nov. 2025
Doctors spent weeks trying to locate the bullet lodged in Garfield's body, but were unsuccessful.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unsuccessful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unsuccessful
Adjective
-
Police struggle to maintain order, their wooden sticks cracking against the pavement in a futile attempt to control the sheer mass of people.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
9 Nov. 2025
-
Trying to win new, younger shoppers is expensive and may end up being futile.—
Phil Wahba,
Fortune,
7 Nov. 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
-
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 14 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share