unsuccessful

[ uhn-suhk-ses-fuhl ]

adjective

1. not achieving or not attended with success:

   an unsuccessful person;

   an unsuccessful venture.

   Synonyms: baffled, foiled, unfortunate, hapless

unsuccessful

/ ˌʌnsəkˈsɛsfʊl /

adjective

1. not having succeeded

Derived Forms

• unsuccessfully, adverb

Other Words From

• unsuc·cessful·ly adverb
• unsuc·cessful·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of unsuccessful¹

First recorded in 1610–20; un- ¹ + successful

Example Sentences

Hegseth has limited experience in politics beyond an unsuccessful run in 2012 for the Republican Senate nomination in Minnesota.

From BBC

The challenge was unsuccessful, but it did lead the electoral commission to introduce new measures to ensure greater transparency.

From BBC

Coming the other way was Joao Felix, who returned to the Blues having spent an unsuccessful loan spell there in 2023, but on much lower wages and a seven-year deal.

From BBC

Alongside the US and Egypt, the Qataris have also played a major role in rounds of so-far unsuccessful talks to broker a ceasefire in the year-long war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

From BBC

Trump has said he would abolish the department — a vow that has been an unsuccessful rallying cry of Republican politicians since Ronald Reagan.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• abortive
• disastrous
• doomed
• failed
• foiled
• fruitless
• futile
• ill-fated
• ineffective
• ineffectual
• losing
• thwarted
• useless
• vain