unsuccessful
adjective
not achieving or not attended with success.
unsuccessfully
-
a word derived from
unsuccessful.
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.
Though he did not dispute the validity of the signatures, he argued, ultimately unsuccessfully, that acts of the Missouri Legislature that related to congressional districts simply were not subject to the people’s referendum power.
From Slate ● Sep. 17, 2026
Other states have tried, unsuccessfully, to take action.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 15, 2026
Lamont was the U.K. chancellor who tried — unsuccessfully — to keep the U.K. in the European exchange-rate mechanism.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 9, 2026
Becerra sought the death penalty in a murder case his office prosecuted early in his tenure, though unsuccessfully.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 8, 2026
Manchee wades in, lapping it up, snapping unsuccessfully at these little brass-colored fish that swim by, nibbling at his fur.
From "The Knife of Never Letting Go" by Patrick Ness
