unhelpful

adjective

un·​help·​ful ˌən-ˈhelp-fəl How to pronounce unhelpful (audio)
Southern often -ˈhep-
also -ˈheəp-
: offering no assistance : not helpful
a rude, unhelpful person
a confusing and unhelpful textbook
unhelpfully adverb
unhelpfulness noun

Examples of unhelpful in a Sentence

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.
Robert Pattinson plays her unhelpful husband. Zack Sharf, Variety, 14 Nov. 2025 Over-discussing the problem or offering constant reassurance can be as unhelpful as ignoring it entirely. Maria Williams, USA Today, 12 Nov. 2025 Even the happier videos came with a cost, inviting unhelpful comparisons between myself and other moms. Lindsay Lowe, Parents, 8 Nov. 2025 Dieting doesn’t work over the long term Dieting is also largely unhelpful, Erlanger noted. CNN Money, 4 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for unhelpful

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1616, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unhelpful was circa 1616

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Cite this Entry

“Unhelpful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unhelpful. Accessed 19 Nov. 2025.

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