as in futile
producing no results
an unsuccessful attempt to fix the faucet ourselves
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unsuccessful
The team has a full roster of starting pitchers and their attempt to trade him in the off-season was unsuccessful.
—
Jean E. Palmieri, WWD, 18 Feb. 2025
Here’s an example from way back in 2016, which was actually unsuccessful, as Spain’s Iago Aspas bent the ball around him into the far corner.
—Michael Cox, The Athletic, 18 Feb. 2025
Many of his friends also had to take down their content, Will says, and their appeals to YouTube were unsuccessful.
—Manuela López Restrepo, NPR, 17 Feb. 2025
If the efforts are unsuccessful and a claim is paid out, the airline then sells the luggage to Unclaimed Baggage.
—Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 14 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for unsuccessful 
Jean E. Palmieri, WWD, 18 Feb. 2025
Here’s an example from way back in 2016, which was actually unsuccessful, as Spain’s Iago Aspas bent the ball around him into the far corner.
—Michael Cox, The Athletic, 18 Feb. 2025
Many of his friends also had to take down their content, Will says, and their appeals to YouTube were unsuccessful.
—Manuela López Restrepo, NPR, 17 Feb. 2025
If the efforts are unsuccessful and a claim is paid out, the airline then sells the luggage to Unclaimed Baggage.
—Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 14 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for unsuccessful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unsuccessful
Adjective
-
Telling people to evacuate with no plan — or even an actual route — seems pretty futile.—
Inga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
3 Feb. 2025
-
That disaster is remembered for the heroic action of federal worker Lenny Skutnik, a bystander who watched a helicopter’s futile effort to pull survivors from the river.—
Matt Leclercq,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
30 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Power losses also left area water pumps useless for hours during the 2017 Thomas fire.—
Grace Toohey,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Feb. 2025
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The holding midfielder Antonio Blanco tried to step into Yamal but a quick flick of his left foot meant that Blanco’s tackle was useless.—
Pol Ballús,
The Athletic,
3 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Yet Texas law forbids its state maternal mortality review committee from looking into the deaths of patients who received an abortive procedure or medication, even in cases of miscarriage.—
Ziva Branstetter,
ProPublica,
17 Jan. 2025
-
Trump had abortive talks with Democrats on issues ranging from guns to immigration, though little came of them.—
W. James Antle III,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
4 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near unsuccessful
Cite this Entry
“Unsuccessful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unsuccessful. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.
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