unsuccessful
adjective
un·suc·cess·ful
ˌən-sək-ˈses-fəl 
: not successful : not meeting with or producing success
Synonyms
Examples of unsuccessful in a Sentence
His last novel was unsuccessful.
an unsuccessful attempt to fix the faucet ourselves
Recent Examples on the Web
These moves follow the unsuccessful merger with the Sony Group Corporation‘s Indian unit in January.
—
Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 5 Apr. 2024
But after the team announced that Brooks-Moon would not return to the booth following unsuccessful contract negotiations, CJ Silas was tabbed to announce the team’s first home series as part of a revolving cast throughout the season.
—Joseph Dycus, The Mercury News, 5 Apr. 2024
In 1989, Sacramento made an unsuccessful pitch to lure the then-Los Angeles Raiders to town.
—Sam Stanton, Sacramento Bee, 5 Apr. 2024
An Iowa woman who sought to boost her husband’s unsuccessful congressional bid in 2020 through a voter fraud scheme was sentenced by a federal judge to four months in prison Monday in a rare case of fraudulent voting.
—Kim Bellware, Washington Post, 3 Apr. 2024
As with all stand-up pros, the eventual honorary Oscar winner recalls several unsuccessful gigs and much existential doubt among those successful stints that gained him a cult following.
—Jack Smart, Peoplemag, 30 Mar. 2024
Over the years, the city has considered multiple, ultimately unsuccessful, proposals to preserve the beach access.
—Barbara Henry, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Mar. 2024
Robinson at the time urged the council to issue a vote of no confidence in Platt, but was unsuccessful.
—Mike Hendricks, Kansas City Star, 28 Mar. 2024
Previous efforts to develop Influence as the fourth spinoff were unsuccessful as Starz says additional news in the Power franchise will be forthcoming while the premium cable network prepares to split off from its current ownership, Lionsgate.
—Lesley Goldberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 Mar. 2024
Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 5 Apr. 2024
But after the team announced that Brooks-Moon would not return to the booth following unsuccessful contract negotiations, CJ Silas was tabbed to announce the team’s first home series as part of a revolving cast throughout the season.
—Joseph Dycus, The Mercury News, 5 Apr. 2024
In 1989, Sacramento made an unsuccessful pitch to lure the then-Los Angeles Raiders to town.
—Sam Stanton, Sacramento Bee, 5 Apr. 2024
An Iowa woman who sought to boost her husband’s unsuccessful congressional bid in 2020 through a voter fraud scheme was sentenced by a federal judge to four months in prison Monday in a rare case of fraudulent voting.
—Kim Bellware, Washington Post, 3 Apr. 2024
As with all stand-up pros, the eventual honorary Oscar winner recalls several unsuccessful gigs and much existential doubt among those successful stints that gained him a cult following.
—Jack Smart, Peoplemag, 30 Mar. 2024
Over the years, the city has considered multiple, ultimately unsuccessful, proposals to preserve the beach access.
—Barbara Henry, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Mar. 2024
Robinson at the time urged the council to issue a vote of no confidence in Platt, but was unsuccessful.
—Mike Hendricks, Kansas City Star, 28 Mar. 2024
Previous efforts to develop Influence as the fourth spinoff were unsuccessful as Starz says additional news in the Power franchise will be forthcoming while the premium cable network prepares to split off from its current ownership, Lionsgate.
—Lesley Goldberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'unsuccessful.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near unsuccessful
Cite this Entry
“Unsuccessful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unsuccessful. Accessed 17 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
unsuccessful
adjective
un·suc·cess·ful
ˌən(t)-sək-ˈses-fəl
: not successful : not having or producing success
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