unsuccessful
[uhn-suh k-ses-fuh l]
- not achieving or not attended with success: an unsuccessful person; an unsuccessful venture.
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Origin of unsuccessful
Synonyms
See more synonyms for unsuccessful on Thesaurus.comhapless, unfortunate, foiled, baffled.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for unsuccessful
Contemporary Examples
As a boy, by the way, Pierre had set out from Florida in an unsuccessful canoe trip to Cuba!
She had an unsuccessful go at trying to join the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills franchise.
Despite several years of lobbying, so far, the MPVR has been unsuccessful in its attempt to pass a measure.
Attempts by The Daily Beast to contact the ABMS for comment by phone and email were unsuccessful.
After years of unsuccessful entreaties by the U.S. TV networks, Pippa finally sat down to speak with Matt Lauer.
Historical Examples
She had, indeed, had several, but their suits were all unsuccessful.
A little later the two men returned, unsuccessful in their quest.
The Long Labrador TrailDillon Wallace
I think Rivers was not justified in what he did because he was unsuccessful, that is all.
A Woman IntervenesRobert Barr
Stanton said to me that he believes in Hooker, (p. 218) even if Hooker be unsuccessful.
Diary from November 12, 1862, to October 18, 1863Adam Gurowski
An attempt to use the British cavalry was unsuccessful on March 12.
unsuccessful
- not having succeeded
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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
Word Origin and History for unsuccessful
adj.
1610s, from un- (1) "not" + successful. Related: Unsuccessfully.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper