Showing results for unpromising. Search instead for outpromising.

Definitions

unpromising

[uhn-prom-uh-sing] / ʌnˈprɒm ə sɪŋ /

ADJECTIVE

bleak

Synonyms

STRONGEST

black cheerless dark dismal grim hopeless sad

STRONG

discouraging dreary gloomy somber

WEAK

comfortless disheartening drear funereal hard joyless melancholy mournful oppressive

Antonyms

STRONGEST

bright cheerful encouraging glad happy hopeful joyful light pleasant sunny

WEAK

appealing comfortable comforting congenial nice

ADJECTIVE

dim

Synonyms

STRONGEST

depressing gloomy somber

STRONG

disapproving discouraging

WEAK

skeptical suspicious

Antonyms

STRONGEST

cheerful encouraging happy joyful

WEAK

bright brilliant clear distinct favorable good intelligent light smart

ADJECTIVE

ill

Synonyms

STRONG

cross foreboding foul hostile unfortunate wrong

WEAK

acrimonious adverse antagonistic cantankerous damaging deleterious detrimental disrespectful disturbing harmful harsh hateful hurtful ill-mannered impertinent inauspicious inimical iniquitous injurious malevolent malicious nocent nocuous noxious ominous ruinous sinister sullen surly threatening unfavorable unfriendly ungracious unhealthy unkind unlucky unpropitious unwholesome vile wicked

Antonyms

STRONG

good happy honest moral

WEAK

healthy sound strong well

ADJECTIVE

inauspicious

Synonyms

STRONG

unfortunate

WEAK

bad baleful baneful dire discouraging evil fateful foreboding ill-boding ill-omened impending inopportune sinister threatening unfavorable unlucky unpropitious untimely untoward

Antonyms

WEAK

auspicious favorable fortunate lucky promising

ADJECTIVE

ominous

Synonyms

STRONGEST

apocalyptic dangerous dark dire dismal gloomy grim haunting perilous portentous prophetic sinister threatening

WEAK

augural baleful baneful clouded direful doomed doomful fateful fearful forbidding hostile ill-boding ill-fated impending inauspicious inhospitable lowering malefic malificent malign minatory precursive premonitory presaging prescient suggestive unfriendly unlucky unpropitious

Antonyms

STRONGEST

bright cheerful encouraging good happy hopeful joyful light nice pleasant safe secure sunny

WEAK

auspicious lucky promising propitious

ADJECTIVE

unadvantageous

Synonyms

WEAK

adverse antagonistic calamitous contrary damaging destructive disadvantageous discommodious hostile ill ill-advised improper inadvisable inauspicious inconvenient inexpedient infelicitous inimical inopportune late low malapropos negative objectionable ominous opposed poor regrettable tardy threatening troublesome unfit unfortunate unfriendly unlucky unpropitious unsatisfactory unseasonable unseemly unsuited untimely untoward wrong

ADJECTIVE

unfavorable

Synonyms

STRONGEST

adverse antagonistic calamitous damaging destructive disadvantageous hostile negative objectionable ominous troublesome unfriendly

WEAK

contrary discommodious ill ill-advised improper inadvisable inauspicious inconvenient inexpedient infelicitous inimical inopportune late low malapropos opposed poor regrettable tardy threatening unfit unfortunate unlucky unpropitious unseasonable unseemly unsuited untimely untoward wrong

Antonyms

STRONGEST

advantageous agreeable aiding auspicious favorable fortunate friendly good happy helpful kind lucky nice positive propitious

ADJECTIVE

unfit

Synonyms

STRONGEST

ill-equipped inadequate inappropriate unhealthy unlikely unsuitable unsuited useless

STRONG

debilitated down dragging mistaken

WEAK

below par can't make the grade decrepit discordant feeble flimsy ill-adapted ill-suited improper inapplicable incompatible incongruous incorrect ineffective inexpedient infelicitous inharmonious laid low not fit out of element out of place out of shape poorly rocky unbecoming uncongenial uncool unmeet valueless

Antonyms

STRONGEST

appropriate proper suitable

WEAK

able fit qualified willing

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.

Then there was World War II. Given Cooper’s eye injury and poor physique, he made for an unpromising soldier.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 10, 2025

It was an unpromising start, and things only got worse from there.

From BBC • Nov. 2, 2024

To figure out how to revegetate this unpromising ground, Olympic National Park hired then–36-year-old Chenoweth.

From Science Magazine • Oct. 18, 2023

From this unpromising site have risen stacks of factory-built steel modules punctuated by little green spaces.

From New York Times • May 5, 2023

Lina had been watering it every night because she’d promised Clary she would, but it was still nothing but dirt, flat and unpromising.

From "The City of Ember" by Jeanne DuPrau

unpromising

Example Sentences

Related Words