unfriendly

adjective

un·​friend·​ly ˌən-ˈfren(d)-lē 

: not friendly: such as

a

: hostile, unsympathetic

an unfriendly nation

b

: inhospitable, unfavorable

Synonyms

• antiseptic
• arctic
• brittle
• chill
• chilly
• clammy
• cold
• cold-blooded
• cold-eyed
• coldish
• cool
• frigid
• frosty
• frozen
• gelid
• glacial
• hard-eyed
• icy
• uncordial
• unsympathetic
• wintry
• wintery

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

Reynolds had something of a reputation for being surly and unfriendly in his heyday, so while discussing the shoot, Kimmel wanted to know if the child actor and veteran star struck up any sort of friendship or rapport. —Kevin Dolak, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 May 2024

An unfriendly market Peloton, founded in 2012 as a fitness equipment company with an interactive platform, soared during the pandemic thanks to closed gyms and remote work. —Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 1 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

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