unfriendly

adjective

un·​friend·​ly ˌən-ˈfren(d)-lē How to pronounce unfriendly (audio)
: not friendly: such as
a
: hostile, unsympathetic
an unfriendly nation

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 Adams passed the Alien and Sedition Acts, which gave him the power to jail unfriendly editors. Peter Suciu, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2024 Guelzo concedes that the wartime president did encroach on civil liberties by, among other things, arresting political dissenters and shutting down unfriendly newspapers. Barbara Spindel, The Christian Science Monitor, 15 Feb. 2024 Other than in limited industrial locations, the San Joaquin Valley is considered too hot, dusty and politically unfriendly to marijuana. Peter Hecht, Sacramento Bee, 21 Feb. 2024 Musk’s assertion that the Delaware court has turned unfriendly to business is absurd. Alan Murray, Fortune, 1 Feb. 2024 The Muses Are Heard received excellent reviews; even sources usually unfriendly to me were moved to praise it. Truman Capote, Vogue, 1 Feb. 2024 Besides that, a home filled with junk is unsightly, unsafe, unhealthy and unfriendly. Marni Jameson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 Jan. 2024 Being caught unaware in unfriendly environments could also lead to real violence. A. Rochaun Meadows-Fernandez, Parents, 21 Jan. 2024 He was perceived as unfriendly, with difficulty maintaining relationships. Julie Seabaugh, Los Angeles Times, 20 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'unfriendly.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unfriendly was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near unfriendly

Cite this Entry

“Unfriendly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unfriendly. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

unfriendly

adjective
un·​friend·​ly ˌən-ˈfren-(d)lē How to pronounce unfriendly (audio)
1
: not friendly or kind : hostile
an unfriendly greeting
2
: not agreeable
an unfriendly environment
unfriendliness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on unfriendly

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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