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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

“While today’s news may be disappointing, we still believe Centurion will be a driver of substantial free cash flow and earnings growth for Peabody over the medium/longer term,” Jefferies analysts wrote.

From Barron's • Mar. 30, 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 this week, while stocks, precious metals and bitcoin continued to struggle.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 29, 2026

"A couple of months from the World Cup and we've got referees allowing tackles like that. It's disappointing."

From BBC • Mar. 27, 2026

She didn't want to admit how disappointing she found this first glimpse of America.

From "The Witch of Blackbird Pond" by Elizabeth George Speare

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.