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unsuccessful

[ uhn-suhk-ses-fuhl ]

/ ˌʌn səkˈsɛs fəl /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR unsuccessful ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

not achieving or not attended with success: an unsuccessful person; an unsuccessful venture.

Origin of unsuccessful

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

SYNONYMS FOR unsuccessful

hapless, unfortunate, foiled, baffled.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR unsuccessful ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM unsuccessful

un·suc·cess·ful·ly, adverb un·suc·cess·ful·ness, noun

Words nearby unsuccessful

unsubscribe, unsubstantial, unsubstantiated, unsubtle, unsuccess, unsuccessful, unsuitable, unsuited, unsullied, unsung, unsupervised

Example sentences from the Web for unsuccessful

As a boy, by the way, Pierre had set out from Florida in an unsuccessful canoe trip to Cuba!

Canada ♥ Cuba Just Got Complicated |Shinan Govani |December 22, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
She had an unsuccessful go at trying to join the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills franchise.

How Lisa Kudrow Pulled Off TV’s Ultimate ‘Comeback’ |Kevin Fallon |November 6, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Despite several years of lobbying, so far, the MPVR has been unsuccessful in its attempt to pass a measure.

Mississippi: Last In Everything, First In Vaccinations |Brandy Zadrozny |October 17, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Attempts by The Daily Beast to contact the ABMS for comment by phone and email were unsuccessful.

Rand Paul and the Certification Racket |Russell Saunders |August 11, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

After years of unsuccessful entreaties by the U.S. TV networks, Pippa finally sat down to speak with Matt Lauer.

Pippa Gives First TV Interview To Matt Lauer |Tom Sykes |June 26, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
After some unsuccessful ventures in illustrated journalism, he started a pictorial weekly in New York in 1875.

The Cleveland Era |Henry Jones Ford
I also told them of my unsuccessful attempt the previous year to verify the statement.

The Meaning of Evolution |Samuel Christian Schmucker
After a series of unsuccessful inquiries over the telephone, I set out to make personal investigation.

The Sixth Sense |Stephen McKenna
If unsuccessful, she returns to her place and pays a forfeit, which is redeemed at the end of the game.

Games for the Playground, Home, School and Gymnasium |Jessie H. Bancroft
It's simply a little nasty, scrofulous imp, with a cold in his head, one of the unsuccessful ones.

The Possessed |Fyodor Dostoevsky

British Dictionary definitions for unsuccessful

unsuccessful

/ (ˌʌnsəkˈsɛsfʊl) /

adjective

not having succeeded

Derived forms of unsuccessful

unsuccessfully, adverb