From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishunpromisingun‧prom‧is‧ing /ʌnˈprɒməsɪŋ $ -ˈprɑː-/ adjective not likely to be good or successful Sales improved after an unpromising start. an unpromising place for a picnic
Examples from the Corpus
unpromising• At that time, the outlook for peace was unpromising.• Obviously, the outlook for peace was unpromising.• To make matters worse, the conduct of the Union generals in the lines to the west seemed equally unpromising.• This rather unpromising collection was augmented with grants from the duchy of Lancaster.• The authorities are attempting to build a technological society on unpromising foundations.• This book has an unpromising genesis.• Armed with these unpromising instructions he arrived and assumed his post on 31 August 1946.• He repeats to this unpromising man the promise made to Abraham and Isaac.• But Berg is a wily writer who has no trouble whipping up something sweet and satisfying from this unpromising set of circumstances. 