as in unacceptable
falling short of a standard an unsatisfactory first attempt at building a birdhouse

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of unsatisfactory Conventional assumptions held that Israel will refrain from any action until those negotiations either failed altogether or concluded in unsatisfactory fashion—and that, if a deal with the Islamic Republic was struck, no Israeli military action would be forthcoming at all. Ilan Berman, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 June 2025 If the answers to these questions are unsatisfactory, your readiness is in question. Vivek Ahuja, Forbes.com, 27 May 2025 The Federal Government Is Doing Less Post George Floyd Despite this unsatisfactory state of affairs, the federal government is doing less to address these challenges. Gena Cox, Forbes.com, 24 May 2025 In addition to creating unsatisfactory weather, NWS meteorologists warned that the winds would cause hazardous seas and urged boaters to take caution. Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for unsatisfactory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unsatisfactory
Adjective
  • The use of unilateral sanctions against Special Rapporteurs or any other UN expert or official is unacceptable.
    Amira El-Fekki‎, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 July 2025
  • Students, both the ones who behave and the ones who misbehave, need to know that there are real consequences for unacceptable behavior.
    Carrie Lukas, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025
Adjective
  • Here are the inspection scores and violations for restaurants within the city limits of Arlington for June 29th - July 5th, 2025 A score of 100 is a perfect score and 70 is considered to be extremely poor.
    Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 July 2025
  • This last group is those with still poor (<50) RS Ratings, but strong (>80) 3-month RS Ratings. a.
    Randy Watts, Forbes.com, 11 July 2025
Adjective
  • One of the company’s big assumptions about the phone had turned out to be wrong.
    Verne Kopytoff, Fortune, 5 July 2025
  • However, according to the Baseball Rules Academy, the umpires got the call wrong.
    Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 5 July 2025
Adjective
  • As holidays go, however, Flag Day can feel a bit lame.
    Kevin Fisher-Paulson, San Francisco Chronicle, 8 June 2021
  • 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
  • But there's also nothing worse than missing a connection that delays your trip by hours or even a full day.
    Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 10 July 2025
  • But conditions can be so much worse and the resources can be strained.
    Erika I. Ritchie, Oc Register, 10 July 2025
Adjective
  • The report alleges a range of major violations plaguing St. Hope Public Schools — including conflicts of interests among its top officers, improper use of public funding, deficient accounting processes and the employment of a largely unqualified teaching staff.
    Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 21 May 2025
  • If a person is not deficient in iron, too much iron can cause significant problems.5 3.
    Heather Jones, Verywell Health, 23 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Unsatisfactory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unsatisfactory. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.

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