unsavory

adjective

ˌən-ˈsā-və-rē How to pronounce unsavory (audio)
Definition of unsavorynext
1
as in distasteful
disagreeable or disgusting to the sense of taste an unsavory blend of spices that simply overwhelmed the fish's delicate flavor

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in immoral
not conforming to a high moral standard; morally unacceptable unsavory doings that ruined the couple's good name in the community

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in unpleasant
not giving pleasure to the mind or senses hated the whole unsavory business of firing people

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4
as in bland
lacking in taste or flavor the unsavory food dished up at the rest area's restaurant should be consumed only by the truly desperate

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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 unsavory After Anne Hathaway was announced to join Tom Cruise in Paramount’s Days of Thunder 2, Randy Quaid had some unsavory words for the Oscar-winning actress, who is currently pregnant with her third child. — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 30 Aug. 2026 Needless to say, things do not go well when Bella begins traveling the world and encountering a wide variety of unsavory people. — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 25 Aug. 2026 Meanwhile in England, Queen Victoria fretted about receiving a gemstone obtained in such an unsavory way, and worried about the condition of Duleep. — Hadley Hall Meares, Vanity Fair, 17 Aug. 2026 The truth is my friend has some very unsavory traits that make people want to tell him no. — R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unsavory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unsavory
  1. distasteful
  2. immoral
  3. unpleasant
  4. bland
  5. unappetizing
  6. unlawful
  7. unpleasing
  8. thin
Adjective
  • That’s the name of a Swift song, and her fans found that post to be distasteful.
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Tyson is at once scary, funny, personable, distasteful, introspective, superficial, articulate and incoherent.
    — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of distasteful
Adjective
  • Convince people that an innocent person represents an existential threat, furnish them with a frightening conspiracy theory about an immoral enemy, and some may become willing to kill.
    — Maxwell Adler, Vanity Fair, 27 Oct. 2026
  • In those cases, your cause is so just that you are warranted to be immoral in protecting it.
    — Jordi Graupera, New Yorker, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of immoral
Adjective
  • Other research suggests trypophobic people find hole clusters as unpleasant as pictures of skin disease and that people with a history of skin problems may find hole clusters particularly uncomfortable to look at.
    — Gabriela Galvin, Scientific American, 26 Oct. 2026
  • That is followed by one focused on exploring conventional notions of beauty by uncovering the unexpected draw of unpleasant scents with Naïla Hamayed, Givaudan’s fragrance evaluator.
    — Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of unpleasant
Adjective
  • However, this new research suggests that this slightly bland and uniform appearance is because no white dwarf is close enough for Earthbound astronomers to see their true colors.
    — Robert Lea, Space.com, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The high-wire act that followed—in which performers had to make these bland conceits into something funny without, ostensibly, preparing any jokes in advance—introduced a tension that made sketch shows feel sedate and uneven by comparison.
    — Dan Brooks, New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of bland
Adjective
  • This results in a watery, unappetizing texture, according to Southern Living.
    — Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 18 Aug. 2026
  • The sugars react during high-heat cooking, causing potatoes to brown excessively and develop an unappetizing dark color or blotchy brown patches.
    — Anne Wolf, Martha Stewart, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of unappetizing
Adjective
  • Runa’s incarceration – and death months after her release – is now the subject of a lawsuit brought by her mother against Hyogo Prefectural Police alleging unlawful arrest and detention.
    — Hanako Montgomery, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Last month, the seizure was ruled unlawful by the California Supreme Court.
    — Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of unlawful
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
  • With fewer trainees at the start of the talent pipeline, organizations are likely to face a thinner shortlist for the CFO seat in the future.
    — Sam Birchall, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The Rams are already thin at receiver in the wake of a hamstring injury suffered by Davante Adams during the Rams’ 18-16 defeat by the Arizona Cardinals last Sunday.
    — Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of thin

Browse Nearby Words

unsatisfied
unsavory
unsay
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Cite this Entry

“Unsavory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unsavory. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

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