uninviting

adjective

un·​in·​vit·​ing ˌən-in-ˈvī-tiŋ How to pronounce uninviting (audio)
: not appealing or attractive : not inviting
a bleak, uninviting landscape
an uninviting manner
uninvitingly adverb

Examples of uninviting in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web With its emphasis on sleek forms and minimal decoration, modern style can be perceived as cold and uninviting. Jessica Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Mar. 2024 The total surface or working area of the intestines is approximately equal to the surface area of two tennis courts, though some Swedish scientists have downgraded it to the size of a small studio apartment — an apartment that is dark and uninviting. San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Jan. 2024 The station is sparse and uninviting. Matt Canham, The Salt Lake Tribune, 17 Jan. 2022 Too much furniture can quickly overwhelm a space, while too little furniture might appear sparse or uninviting. Kaylei Fear, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Feb. 2023 Unlike most native New Yorkers, Teitelbaum doesn’t despise the uninviting, cavernous venue Terminal 5. Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 24 Jan. 2023 The pandemic, homelessness and months of protests rocked perceptions of downtown Portland in the pandemic’s first year, with metro area residents reporting that downtown felt unsafe and uninviting. oregonlive, 15 Oct. 2022 Similarly, a massive table with tiny decorative elements will look vast and uninviting. Dominique Gebru, House Beautiful, 26 Sep. 2022 One of her outdoor strolls led her to the Portola Pedestrian Overpass, an uninviting footbridge that links at least five residential neighborhoods in western San Francisco. Sam Whiting, San Francisco Chronicle, 11 Sep. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'uninviting.' 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

1686, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of uninviting was in 1686

Dictionary Entries Near uninviting

Cite this Entry

“Uninviting.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/uninviting. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on uninviting

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!