unconvincing
Britishadjective
Explanation
Anything that's unconvincing is unlikely or hard to believe. Your unconvincing story about being abducted by aliens probably won't persuade your teacher to give you an extension on your term paper. Your unconvincing impersonation of President Ronald Reagan might sound more like John Wayne, and an unconvincing alibi won't get a suspect off the hook if a detective thinks she's guilty. The adjective unconvincing comes from convince, "cause to believe in the truth of something," and its root that means "to conquer." If you haven't convinced someone of some fact or truth, you've been unconvincing.
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.
Not only because City are nine points behind the Gunners with only one game in hand, but because they looked wholly unconvincing in their draw at London Stadium.
From BBC • Mar. 14, 2026
By contrast, Tyson’s subsequent aria revealing his own old trauma is pat and unconvincing.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 2, 2026
England remained unconvincing with the bat in posting 146-9 but their bowlers took full advantage of a tricky surface to knock over their hosts for 95.
From BBC • Feb. 22, 2026
The morale-boosting display, featuring five tries, was just what Ireland needed after an emphatic first-round loss to champions France and an unconvincing win over Italy that followed high-profile defeats during November's Autumn International campaign.
From Barron's • Feb. 22, 2026
Grand juries in Indianapolis and Toronto found this unconvincing.
From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson
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.
