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
Mapes’ effort to obstruct the federal investigation was ultimately unsuccessful as prosecutors moved forward with charges against Madigan and several others as part of the sweeping probe.
—
Chicago Tribune, 24 Jan. 2025
These attacks were unsuccessful, thanks to a series of decisions in the federal courts.
—Glenn Branch, Scientific American, 24 Jan. 2025
Various attempts to revive the franchise over the intervening decades have been unsuccessful.
—Hailey Salvian, The Athletic, 22 Jan. 2025
She later was pronounced dead after life-saving efforts were unsuccessful.
—Greg Norman, Fox News, 22 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for unsuccessful 
Chicago Tribune, 24 Jan. 2025
These attacks were unsuccessful, thanks to a series of decisions in the federal courts.
—Glenn Branch, Scientific American, 24 Jan. 2025
Various attempts to revive the franchise over the intervening decades have been unsuccessful.
—Hailey Salvian, The Athletic, 22 Jan. 2025
She later was pronounced dead after life-saving efforts were unsuccessful.
—Greg Norman, Fox News, 22 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for unsuccessful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unsuccessful
Adjective
-
Multifactor authentication and other validation checks will become increasingly futile.—
Michael DeCesare,
Forbes,
13 Jan. 2025
-
That drive went 74 yards in seven plays and was the answer the Buccaneers desperately needed after a mostly futile first half on offense.—
NBC News,
NBC News,
13 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Without that essential training to help surmount powerful systemic barriers, the kit would have been useless—and in that sense, the job is still woefully unfinished.—
Sheila McClear,
The Atlantic,
16 Jan. 2025
-
Esoteric knowledge of the parks, essentially useless anywhere else, is suddenly incredibly useful.—
Darryn King,
Forbes,
13 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
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 1 Feb. 2025.
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