unsustainable
/ˌʌnsəˈsteɪnəbl/ (bre, ipa) · [ˌʌnsəstˈenəbəl] /ˌʌnsəˈsteɪnəbl/ (ame, ipa) · [ˌʌnsəstˈenəbəl] /ˌən-sə-ˈstā-nə-bəl How to pronounce unsustainable (audio)/ (ame, mw)
unsustainable — adjective
- unsustainablepositive
- more unsustainablecomparative
- most unsustainablesuperlative
1. An unsustainable situation, level, or rate is one that cannot carry on as it is
An unsustainable situation, level, or rate is one that cannot carry on as it is because it depends on something that will eventually run out or will create serious problems.
The country's national debt reached an unsustainable level after a decade of heavy foreign borrowing.
unsustainable + noun (debt level)
Jin warned his managers that the current spending on marketing was unsustainable and had to be cut.
be + unsustainable (predicative with that-clause)
Shanti felt the pressure of working 70-hour weeks was unsustainable, so she started looking for a new job.
Without fresh investment from the bank, the company's rapid growth proved unsustainable in the long term.
Trang knew that borrowing more money to pay off old debts was an unsustainable financial strategy.
- unworkable
suggests a plan or system that fails in practice rather than running out of resources
- untenable
stronger tone, often describes an argument or position that cannot be defended
- unmanageable
focuses on something too large or complex to control, not necessarily running out
- sustainable
the direct opposite — able to continue at the same level over time
- viable
capable of working successfully in practice
- manageable
possible to deal with or control
文法句型
be + unsustainable
become/prove + unsustainable
unsustainable + noun (debt / growth / rate / level / spending)
用法筆記
Frequently pairs with nouns related to finance, economics, or growth (debt, spending, rate, expansion). Often appears in political or business discussion about systems that cannot be maintained over time.
常見錯誤
2. An unsustainable practice or system damages the natural environment by consuming
An unsustainable practice or system damages the natural environment by consuming natural resources — such as water, forests, or fuel — faster than those resources can naturally be restored.
The farm's intensive use of chemical fertilisers proved unsustainable for the local soil and water quality.
unsustainable + preposition 'for' (environmental context)
Eshe refused to buy fish caught by unsustainable fishing methods that damaged ocean habitats.
unsustainable + noun (fishing methods)
Mayumi switched to solar panels after learning that her household's energy use was unsustainable.
The city council banned single-use plastics to eliminate unsustainable waste practices in public buildings.
Cyrus studied how deforestation makes the timber industry unsustainable across tropical regions.
- non-renewable
specifically about resources that cannot be replaced at all (e.g. fossil fuels)
- environmentally damaging
broader, focuses on harm rather than the rate of resource use
- destructive
stronger negative tone, implies active ruining rather than gradual depletion
- sustainable
the direct opposite — not harming the environment
- renewable
specifically about resources that naturally replenish, such as sunlight or wind
- eco-friendly
designed to cause minimal harm to the environment
文法句型
be + unsustainable
become + unsustainable
unsustainable + noun (farming / fishing / practices / methods / energy use)
用法筆記
Typically describes systems of production or consumption that draw down natural resources. Subject is often a method, industry, or practice rather than a single item. Frequently appears in environmental policy and conservation contexts.