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
But — at least so far — those pursuits have been unsuccessful, an agency spokesperson told the Idaho Statesman.
—
Kevin Fixler
april 29, Idaho Statesman, 29 Apr. 2026
Initial rescue attempts using inflatable boats and firefighter drones to guide the whale back out to sea were unsuccessful.
—Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 29 Apr. 2026
Steyer has spent more than $62 million on California ballot measures, including an unsuccessful effort in 2020 to keep a law that eliminated cash bail.
—Sophie Austin, Fortune, 29 Apr. 2026
After two unsuccessful landing attempts at the Grozny airport, the pilots decided to return to Baku.
—Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 28 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unsuccessful
Kevin Fixler
april 29, Idaho Statesman, 29 Apr. 2026
Initial rescue attempts using inflatable boats and firefighter drones to guide the whale back out to sea were unsuccessful.
—Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 29 Apr. 2026
Steyer has spent more than $62 million on California ballot measures, including an unsuccessful effort in 2020 to keep a law that eliminated cash bail.
—Sophie Austin, Fortune, 29 Apr. 2026
After two unsuccessful landing attempts at the Grozny airport, the pilots decided to return to Baku.
—Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 28 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unsuccessful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unsuccessful
Adjective
-
Bayern coach José Barcala was also shown red by referee Ivana Martinčić for his protests, which were futile because a VAR check confirmed Kett’s foul.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
25 Apr. 2026
-
The entire Earth knows it, and that makes trading Aiyuk for anything notable a nearly futile undertaking.—
Armando Salguero OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
21 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
In a generally useless exercise, NFL draft analysts have delivered their annual grades.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
26 Apr. 2026
-
What also follows is a useless debate over the cultural impact of the movie amid concerns that the film is a little loose with the truth or outright forgetful about key moments of Jackson’s complex and complicated life.—
Leonard Greene,
New York Daily News,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Six of the album’s tracks began in abortive sessions in the 2010s with Patti Smith Group bassist Tony Shanahan.—
Brian Hiatt,
Rolling Stone,
22 Apr. 2026
-
The Chinese duo’s voices pirouette around a pulse that sounds like a car door chime as abortive crashes puncture the otherwise placid, kickless ambience.—
James Gui,
Pitchfork,
17 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unsuccessful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unsuccessful. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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