unsustainably
gb/ˌʌnsəstˈeɪnəbli/ us/ˌʌnsəstˈeɪnəbli/
C1
Anglais
Sens
0 sens
adverb
formal
C1
property
1
in a way that can't continue
in a way that cannot continue for a long time
Schéma d’usage :
[do something] unsustainably; unsustainably + [adjective/adverb] (e.g., high, fast)
Erreur fréquente :
Learners sometimes use the adjective instead of the adverb (e.g., 'grow unsustainable' instead of 'grow unsustainably'). Use 'unsustainably' to modify a verb, adjective, or another adverb.
Synonymes
at an unsustainable rate (Often used for growth, spending, or change over time.)
|
untenably (Emphasizes that a situation cannot reasonably continue.)
|
in a way that cannot be maintained (More explicit and explanatory; less concise.)
Antonymes
sustainably (Able to continue long-term without major harm or failure.)
Collocations
grow unsustainably
|expand unsustainably
|consume unsustainably
|live unsustainably
|operate unsustainably
|develop unsustainably
|unsustainably high
|unsustainably low
|unsustainably rapid
|unsustainably fast
Thèmes
environment
|business
|economics
|society
Exemples
- The city has been expanding unsustainably, putting huge pressure on water supplies.
- If we keep borrowing at this pace, the business will be operating unsustainably within a year.
- Tourism has grown unsustainably in the region, overwhelming local infrastructure.
Exemples pédagogiques
- The company is growing unsustainably.
- We cannot use energy unsustainably.
adverb
formal
C1
property
2
at a harmful level or pace
so much or so fast that it cannot continue
Schéma d’usage :
unsustainably + [adjective/adverb] (high/low/fast/rapid/expensive)
Erreur fréquente :
Learners may apply it to neutral changes; it usually implies a negative outcome (a crash, shortage, burnout, etc.).
Synonymes
excessively (General over-amount; does not specifically imply long-term non-viability.)
|
too (Very common but less precise and less formal.)
|
dangerously (Highlights risk; may or may not imply long-term sustainability.)
Antonymes
reasonably (At a sensible level that can continue.)
|
sustainably (At a level or pace that can be maintained long-term.)
Collocations
unsustainably high debt
|unsustainably high rents
|unsustainably high prices
|unsustainably low wages
|unsustainably low interest rates
|unsustainably fast growth
|unsustainably rapid expansion
|unsustainably large deficit
|unsustainably heavy workload
|unsustainably intense schedule
Thèmes
business
|economics
|health
Exemples
- House prices rose unsustainably fast and then dropped sharply.
- The team has been working unsustainably long hours for months.
- Debt is now unsustainably high compared with earnings.
Exemples pédagogiques
- Prices are unsustainably high.
- He is working unsustainably hard.
Grammaire
Forme canonique
unsustainably
API
GB/ˌʌnsəstˈeɪnəbli/
US/ˌʌnsəstˈeɪnəbli/
Syllabes et accentuation
un - sus - tain - ably (4 syllabes)
Stress on 3rd syllable (tain)
Formes du mot
Noun
- Base: unsustainably
- Plural: unsustainablies
Expressions
unsustainably fast
1/ˌʌnsəstˈeɪnəbli fˈæst/
fixed phrase
formal
too fast to sustain
too fast to continue
Exemples
- They set an unsustainably fast pace and burned out before the end of the project.
- Spending rose at an unsustainably fast rate over the past two years.
- The market was climbing unsustainably fast, according to the report.
unsustainably high
1/ˌʌnsəstˈeɪnəbli hˈaɪ/
fixed phrase
formal
too high to continue
so high that it cannot continue
Exemples
- Analysts warned that the country’s debt was unsustainably high.
- Rents have reached an unsustainably high level for many families.
- The firm relied on unsustainably high sales growth to meet targets.
unsustainably low
1/ˌʌnsəstˈeɪnəbli lˈoʊ/
fixed phrase
formal
too low to continue
so low that it cannot continue
Exemples
- Wages in the sector are unsustainably low, and staff turnover is high.
- Some economists argued that interest rates were unsustainably low.
- Fuel was sold at an unsustainably low price because of subsidies.
unsustainably rapid
1/ˌʌnsəstˈeɪnəbli ɹˈæpɪd/
fixed phrase
formal
too rapid to maintain
too fast to continue for long
Exemples
- The company went through an unsustainably rapid expansion and then had to cut costs.
- Experts said the boom was driven by unsustainably rapid credit growth.
- The town experienced unsustainably rapid development along the coast.