unpopular

adjective

un·​pop·​u·​lar ˌən-ˈpä-pyə-lər How to pronounce unpopular (audio)
Synonyms of unpopularnext
: not popular : viewed or received unfavorably by the public
unpopularity
ˌən-ˌpä-pyə-ˈler-ə-tē How to pronounce unpopular (audio)
-ˈla-rə-
noun
unpopularly adverb

Examples of unpopular in a Sentence

I was unpopular in high school. Her third album has been unpopular with fans. Recent conflicts have made him unpopular among the staff.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Democrats have expanded their political targets, given the unpopular war with Iran and voters angry about high prices. — ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026 Then, in April, Feldstein Soto slipped from unpopular to politically radioactive after hackers stole thousands of LAPD files from her office. — Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026 That appears to be even more true now, with Le Pen’s final-round opponent now likely to be Jean-Luc Mélenchon, a left-wing politician who has associated himself with the protest movement but who is also radically unpopular in the country at large. — Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 23 Oct. 2026 At 16% and 7% respectively, they have been kneecapped by their association with the political mainstream that has become so unpopular. — Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 22 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unpopular

Word History

First Known Use

1614, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unpopular was in 1614

Rhymes for unpopular

See All Rhymes for unpopular

Browse Nearby Words

unpope
unpopular
unpopulated
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Unpopular.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unpopular. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

unpopular

adjective
un·​pop·​u·​lar ˌən-ˈpäp-yə-lər How to pronounce unpopular (audio)
ˈən-
: not popular : disliked by many people
unpopularity
ˌən-ˌpäp-yə-ˈlar-ət-ē How to pronounce unpopular (audio)
noun

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