unsuccessful in (doing) something• The argument, I shall maintain, is unsuccessful in all its versions.• However, she was unsuccessful in an important competitiverelationship, the annualpersonnelevaluation in her division.• As for the rapists, I bet they are unsuccessful inattractingfemales, and so resort to desperatemeans.• Phil Gramm, R-Texas, who was unsuccessful in his own bid for the presidentialnomination early this year.• For all his experience, he was ill at ease in the chair, and unsuccessful in holding a fissiparous membership together.• The Society was substantially unsuccessful in its aim of persuading other charities to adopt the same methods.• You will be told if you are unsuccessful in your application and you will have the right to have your application reviewed.