unsuccessful

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

A former Yale offensive lineman, he started his career as a high school football coach after an unsuccessful attempt to make the NFL and now describes himself as a “lifelong entrepreneur.”

From Salon • Jun. 11, 2026

Sadler worked for Steyer in the final weeks of his presidential bid and scheduled $50 million of billionaire Rick Caruso’s money on ads during his unsuccessful 2022 Los Angeles mayoral campaign.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 10, 2026

His missions included rescuing several Naval aviators and one unsuccessful attempt to rescue a Navy deckhand who fell overboard in the middle of the night.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 5, 2026

For several days, the driver and passengers made repeated attempts to repair the vehicle, but their efforts ultimately proved unsuccessful.

From BBC • Jun. 5, 2026

Several trophy cases commemorate the school’s mostly unsuccessful athletic teams, and a big bulletin board lists the colleges that current seniors have been admitted to, along with the dollar amounts of scholarships they were awarded.

From "Drama High" by Michael Sokolove