unfriendly

adjective

un·​friend·​ly ˌən-ˈfren(d)-lē 

: not friendly: such as

a

: hostile, unsympathetic

an unfriendly nation

b

: inhospitable, unfavorable

Synonyms of unfriendly

• icy
• cold
• frigid
• chilly
• cool

Examples of unfriendly in a Sentence

They were very unfriendly to us.

the unfriendly looks quickly warmed when we were recognized as long-unseen relatives

Recent Examples on the Web

Conservation easements are legal agreements that ensure private lands don’t get sold and turned into environmentally unfriendly developments. —Wire Report, Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2025

Fashion, a notoriously unfriendly industry for the environment, is no exception. —Katherine Fung, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025

Both local residents and Ozark's leaders are unfriendly to the idea of a massive prison nearby at all. —Penny Weaver, Arkansas Online, 30 Oct. 2025

And although the law of averages says that with so many people riding their bikes on so many public roads for so many miles in this bike-unfriendly city will eventually result in an accident, no one among our group had a crash. —Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 26 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for unfriendly

• friendly

Kids Definition

unfriendly

adjective

un·​friend·​ly ˌən-ˈfren-(d)lē 

1

: not friendly or kind : hostile

an unfriendly greeting

2

: not agreeable

an unfriendly environment

unfriendliness noun