unadoptable
adjective
un·adopt·able
ˌən-ə-ˈdäp-tə-bəl 
: not capable of being adopted especially because of having some undesirable trait : not adoptable
The older animals were considered unadoptable.
Examples of unadoptable in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
This, together with his history of abuse, made Boo unadoptable as an animal companion, his current owner, Amy Hurst, told Newsweek.
—
Mohammed Soliman, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Apr. 2025
As a result, she was deemed unadoptable and placed on the euthanasia list.
—Ronnie Li, USA TODAY, 5 July 2024
In her fourth-ever episode, the musical-comedian plays an Annie-esque orphan who turns out to be quite rightly unadoptable.
—Joe Berkowitz, Vulture, 23 May 2024
The nonprofit is a refuge of last resort for unwanted, unadoptable and special needs animals, which include pythons, monitor lizards, skinks, iguanas, geckos, chameleons, turtles, tortoises and tarantulas.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Sep. 2021
In 2017, Jessica had been working on their case, when they were deemed unadoptable by the judge.
—Kelly Corbett, House Beautiful, 15 Feb. 2020
The overly anxious boxer puppy was an unadoptable mess of a dog.
—Amy McRary, USA TODAY, 7 Mar. 2018
Cristina's creatures run the gamut and include the unadoptable, some elderly pets, and those with such varied medical issues as bladder stones and heartworm-positive diagnoses.
—Christian Scaffidi, NOLA.com, 9 May 2018
In 1971, the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act gave the animals federal protections while allowing the interior secretary to sell or euthanize older and unadoptable animals.
—The Washington Post, NOLA.com, 6 May 2018
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Mohammed Soliman, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Apr. 2025
As a result, she was deemed unadoptable and placed on the euthanasia list.
—Ronnie Li, USA TODAY, 5 July 2024
In her fourth-ever episode, the musical-comedian plays an Annie-esque orphan who turns out to be quite rightly unadoptable.
—Joe Berkowitz, Vulture, 23 May 2024
The nonprofit is a refuge of last resort for unwanted, unadoptable and special needs animals, which include pythons, monitor lizards, skinks, iguanas, geckos, chameleons, turtles, tortoises and tarantulas.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Sep. 2021
In 2017, Jessica had been working on their case, when they were deemed unadoptable by the judge.
—Kelly Corbett, House Beautiful, 15 Feb. 2020
The overly anxious boxer puppy was an unadoptable mess of a dog.
—Amy McRary, USA TODAY, 7 Mar. 2018
Cristina's creatures run the gamut and include the unadoptable, some elderly pets, and those with such varied medical issues as bladder stones and heartworm-positive diagnoses.
—Christian Scaffidi, NOLA.com, 9 May 2018
In 1971, the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act gave the animals federal protections while allowing the interior secretary to sell or euthanize older and unadoptable animals.
—The Washington Post, NOLA.com, 6 May 2018
Cite this Entry
“Unadoptable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unadoptable. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.
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