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Synonyms

disappointing

American  
[dis-uh-poin-ting] / ˌdɪs əˈpɔɪn tɪŋ /

adjective

  1. failing to fulfill one's hopes or expectations.

    a disappointing movie; a disappointing marriage.
disappointing British  
/ ˌdɪsəˈpɔɪntɪŋ /

adjective

  1. failing to meet one's expectations, hopes, desires, or standards

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • disappointingly adverb
  • undisappointing adjective

Etymology

Origin of disappointing

First recorded in 1520–30; disappoint + -ing 2

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Nike provided a disappointing sales outlook, and the quick harsh reaction in the stock market might be laying the groundwork for a lucrative long-term investment.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 1, 2026

Worries about the inflationary impact of rising crude-oil prices, coupled with a series of disappointing U.S. debt auctions, pushed Treasury yields higher last week, while stocks, precious metals and bitcoin continued to struggle.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 29, 2026

The Berkshire performance is disappointing since the company is arguably the most defensive mega-cap stock in the market, given its $373 billion of cash and about $45 billion of annual operating income.

From Barron's • Mar. 28, 2026

Former England white-ball captain Jos Buttler will hope to find form after a disappointing World Cup as he returns to Gujarat Titans, where he is joined by batter Tom Banton and left-arm seamer Luke Wood.

From BBC • Mar. 28, 2026

Why did that feel so much more disappointing than having to make the apology in the first place?

From "Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody" by Patrick Ness

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.