What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
unfulfilling
Example
She found her job unfulfilling and decided to pursue a new career path. [unfulfilling: adjective]
Example
The vacation was unfulfilling because it rained every day and they couldn't do any outdoor activities. [unfulfilling: adjective]
Example
Their friendship felt unfulfilling because they only talked about surface-level topics and never had deep conversations. [unfulfilling: adjective]
disappointing
Example
The movie was disappointing because the plot was predictable and the acting was mediocre. [disappointing: adjective]
Example
He was disappointed in his son's grades because he knew he could do better. [disappointed: verb]
Example
The team's performance was disappointing because they lost by a large margin. [disappointing: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Disappointing is more commonly used than unfulfilling in everyday language. Disappointing is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while unfulfilling is less common and refers to a more personal sense of dissatisfaction.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between unfulfilling and disappointing?
Both unfulfilling and disappointing are neutral in terms of formality and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
