unsustainable

adjective

un·​sus·​tain·​able ˌən-sə-ˈstā-nə-bəl How to pronounce unsustainable (audio)
: not capable of being prolonged or continued : not sustainable
unsustainable agricultural practices
unsustainable growth
unsustainability noun
unsustainably adverb
an unsustainably high rate of growth

Examples of unsustainable in a Sentence

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.
The level of our debt, relative to the economy, is … unsustainable. Peter Green, Quartz, 9 Nov. 2024 Some even had to relocate from third-generation farms due to inconsistent climate patterns, making farming unsustainable. Christopher Marquis, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024 But running counter to Neptune’s spin is an unsustainable slog. Shi En Kim, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Nov. 2024 Despite limited funding, the Railroad Commission actively addresses leaking wells but has found this approach unsustainable. David Faris, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for unsustainable 

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1677, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unsustainable was circa 1677

Dictionary Entries Near unsustainable

Cite this Entry

“Unsustainable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unsustainable. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

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