UNAPPEALING Synonyms: 72 Similar and Opposite Words

unappealing

adjective

ˌən-ə-ˈpē-liŋ

Definition of unappealing

as in ugly

unpleasant to look at an unappealing mess of dirt and trash in the corner of the room

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of unappealing The prospects can seem both abundant and astoundingly unappealing. — Faith Hill, The Atlantic, 14 Aug. 2026 Awww Roy has kept bringing her (macro-friendly, entire unappealing) biscuits in Ted’s absence. — Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026 Their shunning of the Spanish coronation, however, felt uniquely unappealing, a show of disrespect to the winners of the most high-profile sporting event in the world. — Adam Crafton, New York Times, 20 July 2026 These substances make milkweed unappealing to pests and help protect it from damage. — Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 11 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for unappealing

Recent Examples of Synonyms for unappealing

Adjective

Without all that, the series misses out on the ugly, earthy, sensual details that could have complicated her past blank innocence.

— Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 6 Oct. 2026
Earlier this season, the Seahawks coach described a dispute with Payton that got ugly enough for Seattle to threaten a lawsuit.

— Dan Zaksheske OutKick, FOXNews.com, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of ugly

Adjective

The identity of the unpleasing Lindsay Marriott’s slayer has no pressing interest.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 July 2026
The remarks not only referred to the aesthetics of the game – tedious matches devoid of skillful merit that were unpleasing to watch.

— Cesar R. Torres, The Conversation, 26 May 2026

Definition of unpleasing

Adjective

Alabama has been busily demonstrating that the reverse is true, following a string of hideous botched lethal injection executions with a series of no less gruesome executions with nitrogen suffocation.

— Maya Foa, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026
This puzzle is stuffed with nuance, pleasing crosses and a lot of simply terrific, ridiculously evocative stuff — for example, a jarring assortment of lovely trivia intersecting with some hideous ailments at more than one juncture.

— Caitlin Lovinger, New York Times, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of hideous

Adjective

The choice of chartreuse — a borderline putrid shade of it, no less — walked an appropriate tightrope between glamorous and grotesque.

— Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2026
Stumble upon grotesque, dead bodies, or be led, masked or blindfolded, to hidden rooms of ill repute.

— Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of grotesque

Browse Nearby Words

unapparent

unappealing

unappeasable

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“Unappealing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unappealing. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of unappealing

adjective

Example Sentences

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