Despite repeated attempts, the archaeologists' initial search for the ancient burial site proved unsuccessful.
尽管多次尝试，考古学家对古代墓地的初步搜寻仍以失败告终。
Which choice best defines “unsuccessful”?
B — Not achieving the desired outcome. “unsuccessful” means not achieving the desired outcome.
Which word means “not achieving the desired outcome”?
D — unsuccessful. “unsuccessful” means not achieving the desired outcome.
unsuccessful — not achieving the desired outcome. In Chinese: 不成功的，失败的.
unsuccessful is pronounced /ˌʌnsəkˈsɛsfəl/.
Despite repeated attempts, the archaeologists' initial search for the ancient burial site proved unsuccessful. (尽管多次尝试，考古学家对古代墓地的初步搜寻仍以失败告终。)
failed, futile, vain — all close in meaning to unsuccessful (not achieving the desired outcome).
successful, effective — each the opposite of unsuccessful (not achieving the desired outcome).
Yes. unsuccessful is on the SAT Prep Basic list — the everyday academic words the SAT assumes you already have. The Digital SAT does not test vocabulary in isolation; words like this one are tested through Words in Context questions, where you choose the word that completes a passage most logically and precisely.