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unpromising

[ uhn-prom-uh-sing ]

/ ʌnˈprɒm ə sɪŋ /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR unpromising ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

unlikely to be favorable or successful, as the weather, a situation, or a career.

Origin of unpromising

First recorded in 1625–35; un-¹ + promising

OTHER WORDS FROM unpromising

un·prom·is·ing·ly, adverb

Words nearby unpromising

unprizable, unprocessed, unproductive, unprofessional, unprofitable, unpromising, unprompted, unpronounceable, unprotected, unprotected sex, unprotesting

Example sentences from the Web for unpromising

Experienced defense lawyers, however, well understand that the insanity defense is a very difficult and unpromising choice.

Jared Loughner’s Legal Options Examined |Gerald L. Shargel |August 6, 2012 |DAILY BEAST
Sleep came easily to him under the most unpromising circumstances.

General John Regan |George A. Birmingham
But even in the most unpromising fields this conclusion should not be hastily reached.

Organizing and Building Up the Sunday School |Jesse Lyman Hurlbut
At the risk of tediousness we shall enter briefly into this unpromising ground.

Short Studies on Great Subjects |James Anthony Froude

And the most unpromising feature of it was that Dorothy had laughed.

The Relentless City |Edward Frederic Benson
A piano, and one so well played, seemed to me to be an unusual thing to find in that small and unpromising ranch- house.

Heart of the West |O. Henry

British Dictionary definitions for unpromising

unpromising

/ (ʌnˈprɒmɪsɪŋ) /

adjective

not showing any promise of favourable development or future success