unfriendly

adjective

un·​friend·​ly ˌən-ˈfren(d)-lē How to pronounce unfriendly (audio)
: not friendly: such as
a
: hostile, unsympathetic
an unfriendly nation

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The recipe for Bo-Diddley Baked Beans, for instance, is sparse and short on seasonings, reflective of his unfriendly meeting with the singer that Swamp Dogg recounts in the headnotes. Jinnie Lee Laura Regensdorf Elissa Suh Roxanne Fequiere, New York Times, 15 May 2025 Saluting officers of unfriendly foreign nations is thought to be forbidden but these protocols don't apply to the commander-in-chief, who is by law a civilian with no military rank or standing. Brendan Cole shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 May 2025 And though his career was prolific, Frawley was notoriously difficult to work with and was fired from some of his projects to his unfriendly demeanor. Virginia Chamlee, People.com, 10 May 2025 California’s unfriendly business environment, stifling regulations and high taxes compound the issue. Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for unfriendly

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unfriendly was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Unfriendly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unfriendly. Accessed 23 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

unfriendly

adjective
un·​friend·​ly ˌən-ˈfren-(d)lē How to pronounce unfriendly (audio)
1
: not friendly or kind : hostile
an unfriendly greeting
2
: not agreeable
an unfriendly environment
unfriendliness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on unfriendly

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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