unsuccessful

adjective

un·​suc·​cess·​ful ˌən-sək-ˈses-fəl How to pronounce unsuccessful (audio)
Synonyms of unsuccessfulnext
: not successful : not meeting with or producing success
unsuccessfully
ˌən-sək-ˈses-fə-lē How to pronounce unsuccessful (audio)
adverb

Synonyms of unsuccessful

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Examples of unsuccessful in a Sentence

His last novel was unsuccessful. an unsuccessful attempt to fix the faucet ourselves
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
For several reasons, each would end up unsuccessful until a familiar agency got back involved. — Ben Church, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026 Jones also picked off a pass in Wednesday’s practice, which, despite the Patriots’ run-game issues, ended with consecutive unsuccessful two-minute drills for Philadelphia. — Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 20 Aug. 2026 Efforts to reach the current owner of Lettuce were unsuccessful Thursday. — Martha Ross, Mercury News, 20 Aug. 2026 As mentioned, NordSpace’s first suborbital attempt was unsuccessful. — IEEE Spectrum, 20 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unsuccessful

Word History

First Known Use

1617, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unsuccessful was in 1617

Phrases Containing unsuccessful

Rhymes for unsuccessful

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Browse Nearby Words

unsuccess
unsuccessful
unsuccessfully
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Cite this Entry

“Unsuccessful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unsuccessful. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

unsuccessful

adjective
un·​suc·​cess·​ful ˌən(t)-sək-ˈses-fəl How to pronounce unsuccessful (audio)
: not successful : not having or producing success
unsuccessfully
-fə-lē How to pronounce unsuccessful (audio)
adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on unsuccessful

Nglish: Translation of unsuccessful for Spanish Speakers

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