Meaning & use

unacceptable

adjective·Everyday

Not satisfactory or allowable; unable to be accepted or tolerated.

See it in a sentence

Speaking to colleagues in that tone is unacceptable in any professional workplace.

The landlord called the state of the apartment unacceptable and demanded immediate repairs.

A note on using this word

Unacceptable is often followed by 'to' (unacceptable to management) rather than 'for', which learners sometimes use by mistake.

Words with a similar meaning

intolerableunsatisfactoryinadmissible

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

acceptablesatisfactory

Make it your own

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