Synonyms for unsuccessful
- adjective
Most common
Synonyms by meaning
Adjective
1. Abortive
abortive, fruitless, futile, unavailing, vain, ineffectual, unfruitful, still-born, bootless, ineffective, unprofitable, unproductive, worthless, sterile, profitless, inefficacious
2. Unfortunate
Other
Definitions
- adj. 1
Failed, not successful.
His unsuccessful attempt earned him sympathy, condolences, and an occasional good-natured ribbing.
Example sentences
- futile When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
- fruitless After three fruitless attempts, he tried one last time.
- abortive Their effort proved abortive.
- unavailing All efforts have been unavailing.
- defeated He tried his best, but in the end he was defeated.
- frustrated How frustrated must a person be to commit suicide?
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| unsuccessful | falling | |
| futile | steady | |
| fruitless | steady | |
| abortive | falling | |
| unavailing | steady | |
| defeated | steady |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 4 letters
- vain1
- 6 letters
- futile2, foiled1
- 7 letters
- unlucky3, sterile2
- 8 letters
- defeated3, abortive3, luckless2, bootless
- 9 letters
- worthless2, fruitless2
- 10 letters
- frustrated3, unfruitful, unavailing4, profitless
- 11 letters
- unfortunate4, ineffective4, ineffectual5
- 12 letters
- unproductive4, unprofitable5
- 13 letters
- inefficacious
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (futile2 = 2 syllables).