unsavory
adjective
un·sa·vory
ˌən-ˈsā-və-rē 
-ˈsāv-rē
2
a
: unpleasant to taste or smell
b
: disagreeable, distasteful
an unsavory assignment
especially
: morally offensive
unsavory business practices
Examples of unsavory in a Sentence
He is an unsavory character.
an unsavory blend of spices that simply overwhelmed the fish's delicate flavor
Recent Examples on the Web
The beautiful game has all too often been marred by unsavory incidents of bigotry.
—
Hannah Ryan, CNN Money, 27 June 2025
What follows is an unexpected morality play surrounding not only the complications of bringing Rajesh’s actions to light, but also Maitri’s unsavory methods that sparked this violent eruption, which rest on her bringing harm to another, equally vulnerable woman.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 17 June 2025
Walters had a friendship with unsavory lawyer Roy Cohn, who pulled strings to make her father’s tax problems go away.
—Stephen Battaglio, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2025
Nicole, for one, had a history of being accused of unsavory business practices.
—John McDermott, HollywoodReporter, 19 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for unsavory
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Hannah Ryan, CNN Money, 27 June 2025
What follows is an unexpected morality play surrounding not only the complications of bringing Rajesh’s actions to light, but also Maitri’s unsavory methods that sparked this violent eruption, which rest on her bringing harm to another, equally vulnerable woman.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 17 June 2025
Walters had a friendship with unsavory lawyer Roy Cohn, who pulled strings to make her father’s tax problems go away.
—Stephen Battaglio, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2025
Nicole, for one, had a history of being accused of unsavory business practices.
—John McDermott, HollywoodReporter, 19 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for unsavory
Cite this Entry
“Unsavory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unsavory. Accessed 9 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
unsavory
adjective
un·sa·vory
ˌən-ˈsāv(-ə)-rē
ˈən-
1
: having little or no taste
2
: having a bad taste or smell
3
: morally bad
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