Unpromising

/ʌnˈprɒmɪsɪŋ/

Meaning & Definition

adjective

not likely to be successful or favorable; lacking potential

The job market appears unpromising for new graduates this year.

not encouraging or giving reason to hope

Despite his efforts, the reviews of the film were unpromising.

having little chance of positive outcomes or results

The weather forecast for the weekend looks unpromising, with rain predicted.

indicating a lack of prospects or potential

She found the project's budget proposal to be unpromising and decided to withdraw her support.

Derived from the prefix 'un-' meaning 'not', and 'promising', from 'promise'.

a missing opportunity

A situation where potential benefits are not realized, typically due to unfavorable conditions.

a dead end

A situation where there is no hope for progress, often associated with unpromising circumstances.

promise

A declaration or assurance that one will do something or that a particular thing will happen.

promising

Showing signs of future success or potential.

A lost cause

Trying to fix that old car is a total lost cause; it's completely unpromising.

A long shot

Investing in that startup feels like a long shot; it seems unpromising.