unacceptable

B2 Topic:Describing Qualities

Also spelled unacceptabobble

US /ˌʌn.ækˈsɛp.tə.bl̩/ UK /ˌʌn.ækˈsɛp.tə.bl̩/ See IPA manual

Freq #8393

Meanings

1

adj
So bad or wrong that it cannot be allowed or approved.

The coach told the players that defeat was unacceptable.
2

adj
Not good enough; failing to satisfy.

The hotel's dirty rooms were completely unacceptable.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

inacceptable

Opposites

acceptable

Word family

Derived forms unacceptablenessunacceptably

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

ethically unacceptable
contrary to moral principles to a degree that prevents approval

Adverb + adjective

Etymology

From Middle English unacceptabylle, equivalent to un- + acceptable.

*keh₂p- Proto-Indo-European unacceptabylle Middle English

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities

External links

# unacceptable

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /ˌʌn.ækˈsɛp.tə.bl̩/
**IPA (UK):** /ˌʌn.ækˈsɛp.tə.bl̩/
**Frequency rank:** 8393

## Meanings
1. So bad or wrong that it cannot be allowed or approved.
2. Not good enough; failing to satisfy.

## Examples
- The coach told the players that defeat was unacceptable.
- The hotel's dirty rooms were completely unacceptable.

## Synonyms
- inacceptable

## Antonyms
- acceptable

## Derived Forms
- unacceptableness
- unacceptably

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *keh₂p-
- Root: unacceptabylle

## Etymology
From Middle English unacceptabylle, equivalent to un- + acceptable.

## AI Etymology
Unacceptable is from Middle English unacceptabylle, equivalent to un- + acceptable. The historical line also includes Proto-Indo-European *keh₂p-, Middle English unacceptabylle. The surface analysis is Middle English unacceptabylle, equivalent to un- + acceptable. The prefix un- supplies the negative or reversive element. In present-day use, it can mean so bad or wrong that it cannot be allowed or approved, or not good enough; failing to satisfy. Derived formations include unacceptableness, unacceptably.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities

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