adj · 3 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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/ˌʌnsəkˈsɛsfl̩/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:AH2 N S AH0 K S EH1 S F AH0 L
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Failed, not successful.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
His unsuccessful attempt earned him sympathy, condolences, and an occasional good-natured ribbing.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adjective
Meaning 2
not successful; having failed or having an unfavorable outcome
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: successful
3
adjective satellite
Meaning 3
failing to accomplish an intended result
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
an abortive revolt
a stillborn plot to assassinate the President
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: abortive, stillborn
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *né Proto-Indo-European *n̥- Proto-Germanic *un- Proto-West Germanic *un- Old English un- Middle English un- English un- English successful English unsuccessful From un- + successful.
Across languages
Translations
36 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Azerbaijani:
uğursuz
— failed, not successful
Azerbaijani:
müvəffəqiyyətsiz
— failed, not successful
Azerbaijani:
səmərəsiz
— failed, not successful
Bengali:
অকৃতকার্য
(okritokarjo)
— failed, not successful
Bengali:
অসফল
(ośophol)
— failed, not successful
Bulgarian:
неуспешен
(neuspešen)
— failed, not successful
Chinese Mandarin:
不成功
(bùchénggōng)
— failed, not successful
Czech:
neúspěšný
— failed, not successful
Czech:
nezdařilý
— failed, not successful
Esperanto:
malsukcesa
— failed, not successful
Esperanto:
sensukcesa
— failed, not successful
Finnish:
epäonnistunut
— failed, not successful
French:
infructueux
— failed, not successful
Georgian:
წარუმატებელი
(c̣arumaṭebeli)
— failed, not successful
German:
erfolglos
— failed, not successful
Ancient Greek:
ἄπρᾱκτος
(áprāktos)
— failed, not successful
Hindi:
असफल
(asphal)
— failed, not successful
Hungarian:
sikertelen
— failed, not successful
Japanese:
不成功
(fuseikō)
— failed, not successful
Korean:
성공하지 못한
(seonggonghaji mothan)
— failed, not successful
Manchu:
laqu
— failed, not successful
Māori:
rahua
— failed, not successful
Māori:
ngere
— failed, not successful
Polish:
nieudany
— failed, not successful
Portuguese:
malsucedido
— failed, not successful
Russian:
безуспе́шный
(bezuspéšnyj)
— failed, not successful
Russian:
неуда́чный
(neudáčnyj)
— failed, not successful
Russian:
неуда́чливый
(neudáčlivyj)
— failed, not successful
Spanish:
no exitoso
— failed, not successful
Tagalog:
bigo
— failed, not successful
Turkish:
başarısız
— failed, not successful
Ukrainian:
безуспі́шний
(bezuspíšnyj)
— failed, not successful
Ukrainian:
невда́лий
(nevdályj)
— failed, not successful
Ukrainian:
безрезульта́тний
(bezrezulʹtátnyj)
— failed, not successful
Vietnamese:
bất thành
— failed, not successful
Vietnamese:
không thành công
— failed, not successful
