UNSUCCESSFUL Synonyms: 60 Similar and Opposite Words

unsuccessful

adjective

ˌən-sək-ˈses-fəl

Definition of unsuccessful

as in futile

producing no results an unsuccessful attempt to fix the faucet ourselves

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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 Between the lines of his story are all sorts of anecdotes — of unsuccessful trials in the Premier League and Scottish Premiership, of agents declining the opportunity to represent him, and MLS teams failing to notice him. — Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 25 July 2026 On Wednesday, Patterson said that officers attempted to restrain Ruiz with a Taser but were unsuccessful. — Chris Looft, ABC News, 24 July 2026 Cardinal’s campaign follows an unsuccessful bid mounted last spring by a coalition of swim parents that included former Constellation Brands CEO Bill Newlands and his wife Kathy. — Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 23 July 2026 Advertisement Paul was the lone Republican to vote on multiple previous, unsuccessful war powers resolutions. — Connor Greene, Time, 23 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for unsuccessful

Recent Examples of Synonyms for unsuccessful

Adjective

The group spent six futile months trying to prompt various artificial intelligence chatbots using Birman’s approach.

— Lyndie Chiou, Scientific American, 24 July 2026
Here, though, the entire enterprise is vile, and futile, and irredeemable, made worse by the self-delusion of the people who pursue it.

— Paul A. Thompson, Pitchfork, 21 July 2026

Definition of futile

Adjective

As children, Vi and Jinx lose their parents in an abortive revolution in Zaun, and years later find themselves on opposite sides of an unfolding power struggle between the two city-states.

— David Faris, TheWeek, 22 May 2026
Those forces have remained in the country, albeit now with more direct control from the Kremlin (after Wagner’s bombastic chief, Yevgeny Prigozhin, led an abortive coup against Moscow and paid the ultimate price for it).

— Ilan Berman, Forbes.com, 11 May 2026

Definition of abortive

Browse Nearby Words

unsubtle

unsuccessful

unsuitability

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“Unsuccessful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unsuccessful. Accessed 1 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of unsuccessful

adjective

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