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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 To his credit, Pattinson loves to dig into unappealing characters. — Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 19 Aug. 2026 Because this onerous and not very lucrative work is unappealing to younger generations, the puesteros are an aging breed, with few lined up to replace them. — Ana Karina Zatarain, New Yorker, 15 Aug. 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for unappealing

Recent Examples of Synonyms for unappealing

Adjective

The bad and ugly, though, has been a long list in years past, but especially in this season.

— Scott Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 21 Oct. 2026
Hidden truths rear their ugly head, making for an increasingly tense triangle interaction.

— Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 20 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
But then comes the ad, a full-screen photo of a hideous brown leather recliner.

— Jennifer Pattison Tuohy, The Verge, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of hideous

Adjective

The film is a wild, frequently grotesque spectacle that careens between horror, action, slapstick, and black comedy.

— Lisa Wong Macabasco, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2026
The bell, sans artist, continues to mark the passage of time, ringing every hour over the pavilion and its guests, a grotesque altar to the ongoing Venetian apocalypse.

— Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of grotesque

Adjective

Sectarian violence made religious mobilization increasingly unattractive, while foreign occupation provoked an awareness of Iraqi nationhood.

— Mansoor Moaddel, Foreign Affairs, 15 Oct. 2026
Part of it is never showing the more unattractive parts of her life.

— Ashlyn Robinette, PEOPLE, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of unattractive

Browse Nearby Words

unapparent

unappealing

unappeasable

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Unappealing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unappealing. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of unappealing

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

grotesque

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes