dissatisfying 1 of 2

adjective

1
as in disappointing

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2
as in insufficient

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Dissimilar Words

dissatisfying

2 of 2

verb

present participle of dissatisfy
1
as in failing
to fall short in satisfying the expectation or hope of a restaurant serving portions that will not dissatisfy even the heartiest eater

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in displeasing
to make discontented an administrative assistant dissatisfied by her meager paycheck

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of dissatisfying
Adjective
The Erika plot is one of the several dissatisfying threads in this episode. — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 14 Nov. 2025 Last season, the Bruins strung together three wins against Rutgers, Nebraska and Iowa – but that team resembled Chip Kelly’s decent-if-dissatisfying regime. — Mirjam Swanson, Oc Register, 13 Sep. 2025
Verb
His 2-3 playoff record came after a long dissatisfying postseason stretch from Chan Gailey (0-2), Bill Parcells (0-2), Phillips (1-2) and before McCarthy (1-3). — Tim Cowlishaw, Dallas Morning News, 5 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dissatisfying
  1. disappointing
  2. insufficient
  3. displeasing
  4. saddening
  5. poor
  6. annoying
  7. cheerless
  8. short
Adjective
  • Florida rose from the dead to upset Texas in Austin on the back of another disappointing performance from Arch Manning.
    — Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2026
  • After the game, Smart did his best to try and push the team past its disappointing defeat.
    — Connor Riley, AJC.com, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of disappointing
Adjective
  • Experts attribute that increase partly to issues such as rising healthcare costs, lagging Social Security benefits and insufficient retirement savings.
    — Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Prosecutors declined to file any charges, citing insufficient evidence.
    — Melissa Sanchez, ProPublica, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of insufficient
Verb
  • The sickly scent of alcohol filled the air and, when mixed with accompanying cigar smoke, combined for an odor most might find displeasing.
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 25 Sep. 2026
  • But many Spotify users voiced displeasure at the change-up, with some complaining that the disco ball looked pixelated on a small phone screen and, generally, was visually displeasing.
    — Todd Spangler, Variety, 12 June 2026
Definition of displeasing
Adjective
  • Actor Chadwick Boseman died of colon cancer at 43, shocking and saddening fans.
    — USA TODAY, USA Today, 11 Aug. 2026
  • The result is a bonus both surprising and saddening.
    — Bob Brody, Baltimore Sun, 9 May 2026
Definition of saddening
Adjective
  • Measles usually kills two or three people in every 1,000 cases, the WHO says, but the disease can be more deadly in poorer nations because of factors such as malnutrition.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 18 Oct. 2026
  • That receiver sends that poor defender into next week at the pylon.
    — Zach Dean OutKick, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of poor
Verb
  • Kids in all three countries loved learning dances from TikTok and annoying their siblings.
    — Ryan Lenora Brown, Christian Science Monitor, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Of course, this would depend on whether the managers choose to pick their strongest teams in what for some is a meaningless, even annoying extra fixture, for squads who just want to go home.
    — Eduardo Tansley, New York Times, 18 July 2026
Definition of annoying
Adjective
  • The storm let up before daybreak, but the morning was gray and cheerless with a cold wind.
    — Elwyn "Bud" Myers, Outdoor Life, 11 Mar. 2026
  • Gomez gestured across the street toward 100 Centre Street—the criminal courthouse, a cheerless Art Deco building the color of cinder blocks.
    — Sarah Lustbader, The New Yorker, 10 Mar. 2025
Definition of cheerless
Adjective
  • Its filler entries are also quite chewy and enjoyable — a lot of short clues for long answers, especially running down.
    — Caitlin Lovinger, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Seminoles capitalize, take lead The Seminoles lead after an Ashton Daniels 28-yard TD to Quintrevion Wisner, capitalizing on the short field following Miami’s turnover on downs.
    — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of short

Browse Nearby Words

dissatisfy
dissatisfying
dissect
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Cite this Entry

“Dissatisfying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dissatisfying. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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