Standard Lemma guide

unacceptably

adv · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • CMU ARPABET: AH2 N AE0 K S EH1 P T AH0 B L IY0 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adv

Meaning 1

Not within the limits of what is generally considered to be acceptable.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • The levels of lead in marine hull paints are still unacceptably high.
  • Your comments are unacceptably provocative.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adverb

Meaning 2

to an unacceptable degree

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The percentage of lead in our drinking water is unacceptably high

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: intolerably

Antonyms: acceptably

History

Etymology

Etymology tree English unacceptable Middle English -ly English -ly English unacceptably From unacceptable + -ly.

Across languages

Translations

5 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: inacceptablement — in an unacceptable way
  • Greek: απαράδεκτα (aparádekta) — in an unacceptable way
  • Greek: απαραδέκτως (aparadéktos) — in an unacceptable way
  • Portuguese: inaceitavelmente — in an unacceptable way
  • Spanish: inaceptablemente — in an unacceptable way