UNSUCCESSFUL: Synonyms and Related Words. What is Another Word for UNSUCCESSFUL?

Need another word that means the same as “unsuccessful”? Find 5 synonyms and 30 related words for “unsuccessful” in this overview.

The synonyms of “Unsuccessful” are: abortive, stillborn, failed, unprofitable, unprosperous

Unsuccessful as an Adjective

Definitions of "Unsuccessful" as an adjective

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “unsuccessful” as an adjective can have the following definitions:

• Not successful.
• Not successful; having failed or having an unfavorable outcome.
• Failing to accomplish an intended result.

Synonyms of "Unsuccessful" as an adjective (5 Words)

abortive	(of an organ or organism) rudimentary; arrested in development. An abortive revolt.
failed	(of a mechanism) not functioning properly. A failed coup attempt.
stillborn	(of a proposal or plan) having failed to develop or be realized. One of the twins was stillborn.
unprofitable	(of a business or activity) not yielding profit or financial gain. There has been much unprofitable speculation.
unprosperous	Not enjoying or bringing financial success.

Usage Examples of "Unsuccessful" as an adjective

• An unsuccessful attempt to enter Parliament.

Associations of "Unsuccessful" (30 Words)

abortive	Causing or resulting in abortion. Abortive techniques.
calamitous	Involving calamity; catastrophic or disastrous. Such calamitous events as fires hurricanes and floods.
defeated	People who are defeated. The defeated army.
dejected	Sad and depressed; dispirited. Is dejected but trying to look cheerful.
despondent	Without or almost without hope. Despondent about his failure.
disadvantaged	(of a person or area) in unfavourable circumstances, especially with regard to financial or social opportunities. We began to help the disadvantaged.
disappointed	(of hopes or expectations) prevented from being realized. The rising was a revolution of disappointed hopes.
disastrous	(of events) having extremely unfortunate or dire consequences; bringing ruin. United made a disastrous start to the season.
disillusioned	Disappointed in someone or something that one discovers to be less good than one had believed. The minority groups were completely disillusioned with the party.
foiled	Disappointingly unsuccessful. Their foiled attempt to capture Calais.
frustrated	Prevented from progressing, succeeding, or being fulfilled. Years of frustrated attempts to regain control of the site.
frustrating	Preventing realization or attainment of a desire. It can be very frustrating to find that the size you want isn t there.
hapless	(especially of a person) unfortunate. A hapless victim.
inauspicious	Not conducive to success; unpromising. Following this inauspicious start the British outnumbered withdrew.
infelicitous	Marked by or producing unhappiness- American Guide Series. An infelicitous remark.
misadventure	Death caused by a person accidentally while performing a legal act without negligence or intent to harm. The petty misdemeanours and misadventures of childhood.
mischance	An unlucky occurrence. Innumerable mischances might ruin the enterprise.
mishap	An unpredictable outcome that is unfortunate. The event passed without mishap.
pathetic	Deserving or inciting pity- Galsworthy. It was a pathetic sight.
piteous	Deserving or inciting pity. Piteous appeals for help.
pitiable	Deserving or inciting pity. Pitiable homeless children.
ruined	Destroyed physically or morally. A ruined castle.
stillborn	Showing no signs of life at birth; not liveborn. One of the twins was stillborn.
underprivileged	(of a person) not enjoying the same standard of living or rights as the majority of people in a society. Needy and underprivileged members of the community.
unfortunate	Not favored by fortune; marked or accompanied by or resulting in ill fortune. An unfortunate speech.
unfruitful	Not producing good or helpful results; unproductive. The meeting was unfruitful.
unfulfilled	Not having fully utilized or exploited one’s abilities or character. Unfulfilled and uneasy men.
unlucky	Having or bringing misfortune. An unlucky defeat.
unsatisfied	Worried and uneasy. The compromise left all sides unsatisfied.
wretched	(of a person) in a very unhappy or unfortunate state. The wretched conditions of the slums.