disappointing

[ dis-uh-poin-ting ]

adjective

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

   a disappointing movie; a disappointing marriage.

disappointing

/ ˌdɪsəˈpɔɪntɪŋ /

adjective

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

Derived Forms

• ˌdisapˈpointingly, adverb

Other Words From

• disap·pointing·ly adverb
• undis·ap·pointing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of disappointing¹

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

Example Sentences

The neutral-site games generate a lot of revenue, helping shoulder the costs of name, image and likeness compensation, but schools worry about disappointing donors who want to see good games at homes.

From Los Angeles Times

The same can’t be said of the two disappointing exhibitions, both at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

From Los Angeles Times

The retail sales figures are the latest in a run of disappointing data on the economy.

From BBC

Confidence was low, results were disappointing and criticism was high.

From BBC

These changes could partly explain why, late last month, Poulain returned from his own trip to the region with some disappointing news: Southern Galicia would not become the next blue zone after all.

From Science Magazine

Related Words

• depressing
• disconcerting
• discouraging
• disheartening
• distasteful
• frustrating
• mediocre
• unpleasant
• unsatisfying