unsuccessfully

Unsuccessfully is an adverb that describes an action or attempt that fails to achieve its intended result. It is used to convey that something did not succeed despite efforts, and it often appears in reporting, analysis, or narrative descriptions of events.

The word is formed by adding the negating prefix un- to the adjective successfully, which itself derives from success (from Latin successus) through Old French and Middle English.

In usage, unsuccessfully can modify verbs such as attempt, pursue, invest, or negotiate, indicating the outcome of the action. It does not necessarily imply a lack of effort; rather, it indicates that the goal was not reached. It is common in formal or factual writing, including journalism, scientific reporting, business summaries, and historical accounts.

Examples: "The rescue attempt was unsuccessful." "The company reported that the funding round was unsuccessful." "The team acted unsuccessfully in defending the lead." However, more natural phrasings in everyday language often use "failed" or "did not achieve" instead of "unsuccessfully."

Related terms include unsuccessful (adjective), success and failure (nouns), and phrases such as "without success" or "to no avail." The term contrasts with successfully.

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