unsatisfactory
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of unsatisfactory
First recorded in 1630–40; un- 1 + satisfactory
Explanation
Baking a cake without following the recipe is likely to lead to an unsatisfactory outcome; the cake will likely be disappointing because it doesn't meet your expectations. The word unsatisfactory is used to describe something that fails to meet the desired standards. Whether it's a school project, a meal at a restaurant, or a customer service experience, if it doesn’t live up to what you hoped for, it's considered unsatisfactory. This term often conveys disappointment and the need for improvement. For example, if a test score is unsatisfactory, it means the grade is below what is acceptable or needed.
Vocabulary lists containing unsatisfactory
Wrong
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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.
It might - for some - have been an unsatisfactory way to end a British Grand Prix that had gone from tense racing to extraordinary upheaval in the final few laps.
From BBC • Jul. 5, 2026
The budget includes Newsom’s proposal to shift enrollees with unsatisfactory immigration status, a term that includes undocumented immigrants and others, from managed care to fee-for-service to save costs.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 30, 2026
Customer-service operations still rely heavily on underpaid and poorly trained humans, leading to general dissatisfaction across all service metrics, including wait times and repeat calls, with consumers increasingly resorting to equally unsatisfactory self-service alternatives.
From MarketWatch • May 11, 2026
International Cricket Council referee Jeff Crowe is yet to deliver his assessment of the pitch, which if handed an "unsatisfactory" rating would see the venue slapped with a demerit point.
From Barron's • Dec. 29, 2025
These affairs are rushed and unsatisfactory: I don’t have time for the finer points.
From "Cat's Eye" by Margaret Atwood
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.
