Word
unconvincing
Phoneticsun·con·vinc·ing, stress on the third syllable
US/ˌənkənˈvɪnsɪŋ/
UK/ʌnkənvˈɪnsɪŋ/
Definition
adj. not sounding or looking true. If someone's story or performance is unconvincing, you do not believe it or feel that it is real.
adj. failing to inspire belief or certainty; lacking the quality of being credible or persuasive. Often describes arguments, excuses, or artistic performances that feel false.
Examples
“His excuse for being late was very unconvincing.”
“The actor gave an unconvincing performance as the villain, making it hard for the audience to take the movie seriously.”
“Despite the elaborate charts and confident delivery, the CEO's explanation for the sudden drop in profits remained unconvincing to the board of directors.”
Examples
simple
“His excuse for being late was very unconvincing.”
contextual
“The actor gave an unconvincing performance as the villain, making it hard for the audience to take the movie seriously.”
complex
“Despite the elaborate charts and confident delivery, the CEO's explanation for the sudden drop in profits remained unconvincing to the board of directors.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “unconvincing” in context.
Verb
01. appear unconvincing
“The CGI effects appear unconvincing by modern standards.”
verb + adj
02. find unconvincing
“Most critics found the film's happy ending rather unconvincing.”
verb + adj
03. remain unconvincing
“Despite the new data, the theory remains unconvincing to the scientific community.”
verb + adj
04. render unconvincing
“The lack of evidence renders his entire argument unconvincing.”
verb + adj
05. sound unconvincing
“His excuses for being late sound unconvincing to everyone in the office.”
verb + adj
Adjective
06. deeply unconvincing
“The lead actor's performance was deeply unconvincing, lacking any real emotion.”
adv + adj
07. singularly unconvincing
“His attempts to justify the budget cuts were singularly unconvincing to the public.”
adv + adj
Noun
08. unconvincing argument
“The lawyer's unconvincing argument failed to sway the jury.”
adj + noun
09. unconvincing explanation
“She offered a rather unconvincing explanation for her absence.”
adj + noun
10. dismiss as unconvincing
“The board dismissed his proposal as unconvincing and poorly researched.”
11. prove to be unconvincing
“The central premise of the novel proved to be unconvincing.”
12. somewhat unconvincing attempt
“It was a somewhat unconvincing attempt to hide his disappointment.”
Usage
Commonly used both attributively before a noun and predicatively after linking verbs like 'seem', 'sound', or 'remain'.
Real-World Examples
“In the end, I found the conclusion of “Money Electric: The Bitcoin Mystery” unconvincing: HBO singled out a Canadian software developer based on what seemed like very thin evidence.” “Yet the author of this guest essay ignores these benefits in an unconvincing effort to claim that hospitals are not living up to their mission.” “It is also glib, poorly reasoned and thoroughly unconvincing.” “Sceptics find this argument unconvincing.” Etymology
From the prefix un- and the adjective convincing, first recorded in the mid-17th century.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/unconvincing