unsustainable

Language: en

🇺🇸 /ˌʌnsəˈsteɪnəbəl/

📖 Definitions

  1. adjective
    Not able to be maintained or continued at the current rate or level; likely to fail or collapse if continued.; Not able to be supported or defended, especially in the context of an argument, position, or claim.; Causing or likely to cause severe environmental damage by depleting natural resources or disrupting ecosystems.; Not capable of being borne or endured; intolerable.

🔗 Details

Word forms

Comparative: more unsustainable Superlative: most unsustainable

Collocations

unsustainable growthunsustainable debtunsustainable practicesunsustainable levelsunsustainable modelenvironmentally unsustainable

Derivatives

unsustainabilityunsustainablysustainablesustainabilitysustainablysustainsustained

Synonyms

untenableunviableimpracticalunworkableindefensible

Antonyms

sustainableviabletenableworkable

Commonly confused

untenable
EN: 'Unsustainable' means cannot be maintained over time; 'untenable' means cannot be defended or justified as an argument or position.

Spelling tips

EN: Remember the 'a' in the second syllable: 'un-sus-tain-a-ble', not 'unsustinable'. The root is 'sustain' + '-able'.

💬 Examples

  1. The company's rapid growth was unsustainable and eventually led to its bankruptcy.

  2. The defense attorney argued that the prosecution's case was unsustainable given the lack of evidence.

  3. Unsustainable logging practices have led to widespread deforestation in the region.

  4. The unsustainable pressure of working three jobs simultaneously took a toll on her health.