unpalatable
adjective
un·pal·at·able
ˌən-ˈpa-lə-tə-bəl 
1
: not palatable : distasteful
unpalatable wines
2
: unpleasant, disagreeable
raising income tax rates is politically unpalatable—
Mary Rowland
Mary Rowland
Synonyms
Examples of unpalatable in a Sentence
pasta and honey is an unpalatable combination
hesitated before sharing some of the more unpalatable details of his captivity
Recent Examples on the Web
The prospect of such resistance makes a new occupation of Gaza rather unpalatable for Israeli planners.
—Daniel Byman and Seth G. Jones, Foreign Affairs, 14 Oct. 2023
For prey, the goal is to mimic something unpalatable or potentially dangerous to a predator.
—Stephen C. George, Discover Magazine, 8 May 2023
The choice Kiwi Farms leaves us with is deeply unpalatable.
—WIRED, 22 Sep. 2023
By now, Western governments, which had pledged to support secular opposition groups, found the situation in northern Syria unpalatable; there was no way to guarantee that weapons given to a secular armed faction would not end up in jihadi hands.
—Ben Taub, The New Yorker, 14 Sep. 2023
For weeks, amid the uneven, unpalatable and, frankly, harrowing Heat ride to this moment, a return to the lottery had tempted outsiders, a step back to reset.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 15 Apr. 2023
These bright flowers come in a variety of colors and are said to deter animals like deer, rabbits, and squirrels because of their fragrant odor and unpalatable taste.
—Ashley Martens, Redbook, 16 Aug. 2023
But if this tendency makes the West less inclined toward realpolitik—trading rights and principles for peace, or cutting deals with unpalatable autocrats—wars such as the one in Ukraine may become more frequent and more difficult to end.
—Christopher Blattman, Foreign Affairs, 29 Nov. 2022
These scenes and storylines are not about the anger itself but rather what has led a woman to speak, to act, to defend herself and others, to have the autonomy to express an unpalatable emotion.
—Maya Phillips, New York Times, 22 May 2023
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Daniel Byman and Seth G. Jones, Foreign Affairs, 14 Oct. 2023
For prey, the goal is to mimic something unpalatable or potentially dangerous to a predator.
—Stephen C. George, Discover Magazine, 8 May 2023
The choice Kiwi Farms leaves us with is deeply unpalatable.
—WIRED, 22 Sep. 2023
By now, Western governments, which had pledged to support secular opposition groups, found the situation in northern Syria unpalatable; there was no way to guarantee that weapons given to a secular armed faction would not end up in jihadi hands.
—Ben Taub, The New Yorker, 14 Sep. 2023
For weeks, amid the uneven, unpalatable and, frankly, harrowing Heat ride to this moment, a return to the lottery had tempted outsiders, a step back to reset.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 15 Apr. 2023
These bright flowers come in a variety of colors and are said to deter animals like deer, rabbits, and squirrels because of their fragrant odor and unpalatable taste.
—Ashley Martens, Redbook, 16 Aug. 2023
But if this tendency makes the West less inclined toward realpolitik—trading rights and principles for peace, or cutting deals with unpalatable autocrats—wars such as the one in Ukraine may become more frequent and more difficult to end.
—Christopher Blattman, Foreign Affairs, 29 Nov. 2022
These scenes and storylines are not about the anger itself but rather what has led a woman to speak, to act, to defend herself and others, to have the autonomy to express an unpalatable emotion.
—Maya Phillips, New York Times, 22 May 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'unpalatable.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1658, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Dictionary Entries Near unpalatable
Cite this Entry
“Unpalatable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unpalatable. Accessed 28 Nov. 2023.
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