Words / A2

un-uh-k-SEPT-uh-bl/ˌʌnəkˈseptəbl/

Unacceptable means too bad or wrong to allow: unacceptable behaviour, completely unacceptable, an unacceptable delay. Acceptable is the opposite. Unpleasant is about comfort, not rules. Accept is the verb. Do not write unacceptable when you mean exceptable (not a real word) or exceptional.

Meaning

Too bad or wrong to be allowed.

Examples

• “Late homework every week is unacceptable.”
• “Shouting at customers is unacceptable.”
• “The hotel said the noise after midnight was unacceptable.”

Good to know

unacceptable behaviour / completely unacceptable. Opposite: acceptable. Mix-up: exceptional.

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