SINCE 1828
undesirable
adjective
un·de·sir·able
| \ ˌən-di-ˈzī-rə-bəl
\
\
Definition of undesirable
(Entry 1 of 2)
: not desirable : unwanted
undesirable side effects
undesirable
nounDefinition of undesirable (Entry 2 of 2)
: one that is undesirable
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Other Words from undesirable
Adjective
undesirability
\ ˌən-di-ˌzī-rə-ˈbi-lə-tē
\
noun
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noun
undesirableness
\ ˌən-di-ˈzī-rə-bəl-nəs
\
noun
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noun
undesirably
\ ˌən-di-ˈzī-rə-blē
\
adverb
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adverb
Examples of undesirable in a Sentence
Adjective
The drug has some undesirable side effects. This may have undesirable consequences. Frankly, it's an undesirable and unpleasant job.
Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective
Unfortunately, too many of us avoid thinking about tomorrow, with potentially dangerous and certainly undesirable consequences. — WSJ, "Five Top Ideas About Aging from The Experts in 2018," 4 Jan. 2019 From Day One, Trump's zero-tolerance gambit has clearly been about forcing Congress's hand by creating a hugely undesirable situation at the border. — Aaron Blake, Washington Post, "The most stunning part of Trump’s separating-families gambit: He seems to have no real plan," 19 June 2018 According to the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, a parafoil was attached to part of the fairing to help guide its descent to Earth with 'improved accuracy' and prevent landing in undesirable areas. — Eric Berger, Ars Technica, "Rocket Report: Japanese spaceplane, GEO downturn, Block 5 results good," 14 Sep. 2018 From model Imaan Hammam to R&B musician Kelela, Darrel's lens cast a spotlight on the women in fashion who have notoriously been white-washed out of street style sections and treated as undesirable style subjects. — Darrel Hunter, Teen Vogue, "Street Style Diversity at PFW," 30 Sep. 2018 Lower-caste Hindus who carry out undesirable tasks such as skinning dead cattle have also faced mob violence. — Fox News, "Indian mob lynches woman on rumors of child kidnapping," 23 July 2018 Further Reading Russia appears to have surrendered to SpaceX in the global launch market Rogozin says that such conditions make working in the aerospace industry undesirable. — Eric Berger, Ars Technica, "Russian space leader issues decree against trash, “sloppy” work attitudes," 7 Nov. 2018 When women do, we're considered old, washed up, and even undesirable. — Amanda Etkind, Allure, "My Hair Started Going Gray When I Was Just 20 — and I'm Totally Embracing It," 6 Sep. 2018 And as both Uber and Lyft plan to go public in the next two years, a 12-month pause on growth here could be particularly undesirable. — Johana Bhuiyan, Recode, "Uber and Lyft are fighting a critical battle against New York City — and this time, they might not win," 2 Aug. 2018Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
Soon enough Como added bicycles and motorcycles and even random pedestrians to his list of undesirables. — Steven Winn, SFChronicle.com, "A loving family remembers the zeitgeist of Como the dog," 2 July 2018 Rohingya, treated as undesirables in predominantly Buddhist Myanmar and denied citizenship, used to flee by sea by the thousands each year until security in Myanmar was tightened after a surge of refugees in 2015 caused regional alarm. — Washington Post, "Rohingya refugees rescued after drifting at sea for 9 days," 21 Apr. 2018 The diversity lottery is full of immigrants picked by their governments, in order to get rid of undesirables. Bonkers. — Andrew Sullivan, Daily Intelligencer, "Is the World Done With Liberal Democracy?," 1 June 2018 Rohingya, treated as undesirables and denied citizenship in predominantly Buddhist Myanmar, used to flee by sea by the thousands each year until security in Myanmar was tightened after a surge of refugees in 2015 caused regional alarm. — Zik Maulana, The Seattle Times, "Rohingya refugees rescued after drifting at sea for 9 days," 21 Apr. 2018 There, infertile women, resisters, and other undesirables (including a character played by Marisa Tomei) are enslaved and forced to clean up radioactive and toxic waste. — Christopher Wallenberg, BostonGlobe.com, "How Elisabeth Moss and company plan to carry ‘Handmaid’ forward," 19 Apr. 2018 Rohingya, treated as undesirables in predominantly Buddhist Myanmar, used to flee by sea by the thousands each year until security in Myanmar was tightened after an upsurge of refugees in 2015 caused regional concern. — Washington Post, "Malaysia intercepts boat carrying Rohingya refugees," 3 Apr. 2018 Rohingya, treated as undesirables in predominantly Buddhist Myanmar, used to flee by sea by the thousands each year. — Fox News, "Expert doesn't expect new Rohingya boat people exodus," 2 Apr. 2018 But when applied to the mentally ill and other undesirables, the euthanasia movement became tied to the eugenics movement. — Grazie Pozo Christie, National Review, "When Does the Right to Die Become the Duty to Die?," 13 Feb. 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'undesirable.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for undesirable
undesirable
adjective
English Language Learners Definition of undesirable
: bad, harmful, or unpleasant : not worth having or getting : not desirable
See the full definition for undesirable in the English Language Learners Dictionary
undesirable
adjective
un·de·sir·able
| \ ˌən-di-ˈzī-rə-bəl
\
\
Kids Definition of undesirable
: having qualities that are not pleasing or wanted
an undesirable effect
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