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
Efforts to reach Whittaker via multiple phone calls and emails were unsuccessful.
—
Briah Lumpkins, Charlotte Observer, 17 June 2025
On the other hand, Wild Wild West was commercially unsuccessful, panned by critics, and won several Razzies, including Worst Screen Couple, Worst Screenplay, and Worst Original Song for Smith's single of the same name.
—Mekishana Pierre, EW.com, 16 June 2025
However, an unsuccessful weekend against the fourth-place Red Sox – Boston took 2-of-3 in the Bronx and dropped double digits in the last two games – highlighted the Yankees’ room for improvement ahead of the July 31 trade deadline.
—Gary Phillips, Hartford Courant, 9 June 2025
Efforts to reach Suncor officials for this story were unsuccessful.
—Noelle Phillips, Denver Post, 7 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for unsuccessful
Briah Lumpkins, Charlotte Observer, 17 June 2025
On the other hand, Wild Wild West was commercially unsuccessful, panned by critics, and won several Razzies, including Worst Screen Couple, Worst Screenplay, and Worst Original Song for Smith's single of the same name.
—Mekishana Pierre, EW.com, 16 June 2025
However, an unsuccessful weekend against the fourth-place Red Sox – Boston took 2-of-3 in the Bronx and dropped double digits in the last two games – highlighted the Yankees’ room for improvement ahead of the July 31 trade deadline.
—Gary Phillips, Hartford Courant, 9 June 2025
Efforts to reach Suncor officials for this story were unsuccessful.
—Noelle Phillips, Denver Post, 7 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for unsuccessful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unsuccessful
Adjective
-
The researchers said their findings should not suggest afforestation and carbon offsetting are futile.—
Hayley Smith,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2025
-
And beneath that fear lies a corrosive belief that resistance is futile.—
Elisa Manfredini,
Time,
14 June 2025
Adjective
-
However, disciplined conduct on the part of the activists and the intervention of other bystanders renders the attacks useless.—
Khaleda Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 June 2025
-
Pine needles mixed with all the other fine debris rendered the guards useless.—
Tim Carter,
Hartford Courant,
14 June 2025
Adjective
-
Microsoft is well-positioned to run a redo of Valve's abortive Steam Machines effort, only this time without the performance headaches and limited library of Linux ports that plagued that effort.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
18 June 2025
-
In the abortive March 2022 draft deals, Russia even expressed a willingness to return to preinvasion lines.—
Fred Weir,
Christian Science Monitor,
30 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unsuccessful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unsuccessful. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share