unacceptable

unacceptable — adjective

1. So bad, wrong, or poor in quality that it cannot be allowed to happen or continu

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

So bad, wrong, or poor in quality that it cannot be allowed to happen or continue.

Example

The manager told Tuan that his rude comments were completely unacceptable.

collocation: completely unacceptable

Ada found the noise from the construction site unacceptable during exam week.

pattern: find + something + unacceptable

Common collocations
  • completely unacceptable
  • totally unacceptable
  • utterly unacceptable
  • politically unacceptable
  • socially unacceptable
  • morally unacceptable
  • find something unacceptable
  • consider something unacceptable
  • deem something unacceptable
  • unacceptable behavior
  • unacceptable conduct
  • unacceptable practice
  • unacceptable level
  • unacceptable risk
Synonyms
  • intolerable

    even stronger than 'unacceptable'; suggests something is so bad it cannot be endured

  • unsatisfactory

    softer than 'unacceptable'; implies it simply fails to meet expectations rather than being outrageously bad

  • outrageous

    stronger emotional charge; suggests the behavior is shocking and offensive

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

find + something + unacceptable

unacceptable + to + someone

unacceptable + for + someone + to-infinitive

Common Mistakes

This food is unacceptable' (when you just don't like it).
This food is unacceptable because it is undercooked and unsafe to eat.
'unacceptable' is stronger than 'not good enough'; use it when something truly fails a basic standard.

Word family

  • accept
    verbA2
  • acceptable
    adjectiveB1
  • acceptability
    nounC1
  • acceptably
    adverbB2
  • unacceptably
    adverbB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

'Unacceptable' is the broadest of these words — it covers anything that fails a basic standard, from rude behavior to poor product quality. 'Intolerable' is stronger, describing a situation so bad that people cannot bear it ('the noise was intolerable'). 'Unsatisfactory' is milder, used when something merely falls short of what was expected ('his explanation was unsatisfactory'). 'Inappropriate' focuses on social or contextual fit rather than quality ('her comment was inappropriate for a formal meeting'). 'Outrageous' adds emotional shock, suggesting the thing is not just wrong but shocking ('the price was outrageous'). In formal writing, 'unacceptable' is the safest choice; use 'intolerable' when you want to emphasize emotional suffering, and 'unsatisfactory' when the issue is about meeting requirements rather than crossing a moral line.

intolerableunsatisfactory ↗inappropriate ↗outrageous ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Verbs

Adverbs

Phrases

  • unacceptable to
  • unacceptable for
  • unacceptable in
  • unacceptable under
  • unacceptable by

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

Formed from the prefix 'un-' (meaning 'not') attached to 'acceptable', which came into English through Old French from Latin 'acceptabilis', meaning 'worthy of receiving willingly'. The prefix 'un-' has been used since Old English to reverse the meaning of adjectives.