unusable

adjective

un·​us·​able ˌən-ˈyü-zə-bəl How to pronounce unusable (audio)
Synonyms of unusablenext
: not capable of being used or fit for use : not usable
unusable documentary footage
The lavatory, totally unusable, was full of snow which had blasted in through the keyhole.—Katharine Sim
unusably
ˌən-ˈyü-zə-blē How to pronounce unusable (audio)
adverb

Synonyms of unusable

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Examples of unusable in a Sentence

a completely unusable gadget that's just taking up space in the drawer
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recycle or toss only what is genuinely unusable. — Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 25 June 2026 The fire destroyed the post office lobby, which remains unusable, prosecutors said. — Jason Green, Mercury News, 16 June 2026 Ignoring this warning sign can allow the blockage to grow until the sink becomes completely unusable. — Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 6 June 2026 Early tests of the system's effect on redistricting data raised alarm among many data users, who feared that the statistics would ultimately be unusable. — Hansi Lo Wang, NPR, 12 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for unusable

Word History

First Known Use

1825, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unusable was in 1825

Rhymes for unusable

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Browse Nearby Words

unurged
unusable
unuse
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Cite this Entry

“Unusable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unusable. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on unusable

Nglish: Translation of unusable for Spanish Speakers

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