as in unacceptable
falling short of a standard
an unsatisfactory first attempt at building a birdhouse
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unsatisfactory
Proctor was officially fired from his post on March 19 of this year — just two weeks before the start of Read's second trial — for what Massachusetts State Police said was unsatisfactory performance and a charge related to alcoholic beverages, according to GBH News.
—
Rachel Treisman, NPR, 28 Mar. 2025
The trial board found Proctor guilty of three charges of unsatisfactory performance and one charge of consumption of alcohol while on duty from January to August 2022.
—Tim Stelloh, NBC News, 19 Mar. 2025
Some grantees interviewed by The Times feared that impolitic or unsatisfactory answers could lead to cancellation of funding.
—Sheryl Gay Stolberg, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2025
The Gen Z college graduates hired this year have been unsatisfactory, say 75% of employers.
—Mark C. Perna, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for unsatisfactory
Rachel Treisman, NPR, 28 Mar. 2025
The trial board found Proctor guilty of three charges of unsatisfactory performance and one charge of consumption of alcohol while on duty from January to August 2022.
—Tim Stelloh, NBC News, 19 Mar. 2025
Some grantees interviewed by The Times feared that impolitic or unsatisfactory answers could lead to cancellation of funding.
—Sheryl Gay Stolberg, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2025
The Gen Z college graduates hired this year have been unsatisfactory, say 75% of employers.
—Mark C. Perna, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for unsatisfactory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unsatisfactory
Adjective
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Shapiro told reporters at a news conference on April 16 that regardless of the motivation for the crime, political violence must be condemned as unacceptable in our society.—
Riley Beggin,
USA Today,
18 Apr. 2025
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Any format that builds in a conflict of interest is unacceptable.—
Robert Greene,
Mercury News,
16 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Road conditions are rapidly deteriorating, with the percentage of roads in poor condition expected to double in two years.—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
18 Apr. 2025
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But academic research has consistently demonstrated that stadiums are poor drivers of economic growth and an analysis published last month found stadium projects spur little growth in local construction industries.—
Jonathan Shorman,
Kansas City Star,
18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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His interrogator conceded that the police must have gotten the wrong guy and released him within weeks.—
Gisela Salim-Peyer,
The Atlantic,
10 Apr. 2025
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Five justices said the lawsuit was brought in the wrong venue.—
Devin Dwyer,
ABC News,
10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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As holidays go, however, Flag Day can feel a bit lame.—
Kevin Fisher-Paulson,
San Francisco Chronicle,
8 June 2021
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My 11-year-old loved watching the pups roll balls and play a giant floor piano, but for non-dog owners (guilty as charged), parts of the series—like dressing dogs in little hats and outfits for a Parisian fashion show—feel lame.—
Tim Neville,
Outside Online,
23 Nov. 2020
Adjective
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That means more time for Rojas, who has shown more bad than good to begin this season.—
Matt Gelb,
New York Times,
18 Apr. 2025
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The uneasiness roiling markets also manifested in shopper surveys, one of which last week showed worse attitudes about the economy than at any point during the Great Recession.—
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
17 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Atlanta Falcons: Shemar Stewart, DE, Texas A&M The Falcons have been deficient in pass rushers for years.—
Ben Standig,
The Athletic,
24 Mar. 2025
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In 2022 Placer County dropped its approval after an appeals court found that its environmental report was deficient in four areas, including emergency evacuation analysis.—
CalMatters,
The Mercury News,
20 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unsatisfactory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unsatisfactory. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.
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