as in unacceptable
falling short of a standard
an unsatisfactory first attempt at building a birdhouse
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unsatisfactory
Since 2023, there have been mechanisms by which second division, or Liga Expansión, teams can join Liga MX — through meeting certain criteria — but the system is complicated, woolly and unsatisfactory.
—
Phil Hay, New York Times, 29 May 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for unsatisfactory
Phil Hay, New York Times, 29 May 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for unsatisfactory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unsatisfactory
Adjective
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In his short stint in Scranton, that number has come down a hair, but still resides at an unacceptable 29.4%.—
Aaliyan Mohammed,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 July 2025
-
Mistakes should not be viewed as failures or unacceptable setbacks, but rather as calculated risks—necessary steps in the iterative journey of progress.—
Davide Sartini,
Forbes.com,
22 July 2025
Adjective
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Spurred by climate change, Canadian wildfires have increasingly exacerbated poor air quality across Milwaukee and southern Wisconsin.—
Maia Pandey,
jsonline.com,
24 July 2025
-
Because her judgment is so poor, your aggressively driving grandmother should not be behind the wheel.—
Jeanne Phillips,
Mercury News,
23 July 2025
Adjective
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But new research shows that the intuitive assumption that the water is mostly newly melted snow or fresh rain is dead wrong.—
The Editors,
JSTOR Daily,
15 July 2025
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For instance, Putignano says there’s nothing wrong with expecting a teen to clean their room, just as your parents expected of you.—
Beth Ann Mayer,
Parents,
15 July 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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Earlier this month, employees at the Environmental Protection Agency, filed their own letter, with even worse results; 140 of them were placed on administrative leave.—
Jeffrey Kluger,
Time,
22 July 2025
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Making the timing of this move even worse, JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon, the nation’s most high-profile banker, is warning that private credit funds may be heading for a 2008-style crisis.—
Orlando Sentinel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
22 July 2025
Adjective
-
According to a Science Direct article, Western diets are deficient in fiber and essential micronutrients, contributing to gut imbalances, chronic inflammation, and metabolic dysfunction.—
Dianne Plummer,
Forbes.com,
18 July 2025
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Something like 95 percent of people are deficient in fiber.—
Hali Bey Ramdene,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
11 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unsatisfactory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unsatisfactory. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
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