unsatisfactory

[ uhn-sat-is-fak-tuh-ree ]

/ ˌʌn sæt ɪsˈfæk tə ri /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR unsatisfactory ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

not satisfactory; not satisfying or meeting one's demands; inadequate.

QUIZZES

Discover The Influence Of Portuguese On English Via This Quiz!

We’ve gathered some interesting words donated to English from Portuguese … as well as some that just don’t translate at all. Do you know what they mean?

Question 1 of 11

Which of the following bird names traces its immediate origin to Portuguese?

owl

crow

piranha

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Words nearby unsatisfactory

unsaid, unsaleable, unsalted, unsanctioned, unsanitary, unsatisfactory, unsatisfied, unsatisfying, unsaturated, unsaturated compound, unsaturated fat

Origin of unsatisfactory

First recorded in 1630–40; un-¹ + satisfactory

SYNONYMS FOR unsatisfactory

disappointing, insufficient.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR unsatisfactory ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM unsatisfactory

un·sat·is·fac·to·ri·ly, adverbun·sat·is·fac·to·ri·ness, noun

Example sentences from the Web for unsatisfactory

But even interrogating successful proposals leads to unsatisfactory reasoning.
Public Marriage Proposals Must Die|Tauriq Moosa|December 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Never once was a box checked indicating that his work was unsatisfactory or needed improvement.
Two Texas Regulators Tried to Enforce the Rules. They Were Fired.|David Hasemyer, InsideClimate News|December 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Anyone with an unsatisfactory answer is held until the Nigerian military can deal with them the next morning.
Nigeria’s Do-It-Yourself Boko Haram Busters|Nina Strochlic|May 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I had not previously known one could get on, even in this unsatisfactory fashion, with so little brain.
5 War Books You May Not Have in Your Library|Jake Tapper|November 11, 2013|DAILY BEAST

A lot of the most important data in the gun debate is unsatisfactory and is out-of-date.
Are Gun Accidents 'Very Rare'?|David Frum|February 20, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Bella had to leave her in this unsatisfactory condition, as there was no chance of taking her home to Miss Ankers' cottage.
The Solitary Farm|Fergus Hume
No; I was aware that he had gone to Russia, but not that he had received an unsatisfactory discharge, whatever the word is.
Warren Commission (9 of 26): Hearings Vol. IX (of 15)|The President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy
I consider the whole affair as most unsatisfactory, even regarding Mr. Wilson as a trader.
A Modern Buccaneer|Rolf Boldrewood
Though the condition of the navy was unsatisfactory, the sea-power of Great Britain was an important factor in European politics.
The Political History of England - Vol. X.|William Hunt
From a period long anterior to the commencement of the movement, the position of Europeans in China was most unsatisfactory.
Ti-Ping Tien-Kwoh|Augustus F. Lindley

British Dictionary definitions for unsatisfactory

unsatisfactory

/ (ˌʌnsætɪsˈfæktərɪ, -trɪ) /

adjective

not adequate or suitable; unacceptable

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

unsatisfactory

adjective

QUIZZES

Words related to unsatisfactory

Words nearby unsatisfactory

Origin of unsatisfactory

SYNONYMS FOR unsatisfactory

OTHER WORDS FROM unsatisfactory

Example sentences from the Web for unsatisfactory

British Dictionary definitions for unsatisfactory

adjective