unpleasant

adjective

un·​pleas·​ant ˌən-ˈple-zᵊnt 

: not pleasant : not amiable or agreeable : displeasing

unpleasant odors

unpleasantly adverb

Synonyms of unpleasant

• unpleasing
• harsh
• bad
• nasty
• ugly
• bitter
• sour
• horrible
• disgusting
• awful
• disagreeable
• sickening
• unwelcome
• rotten

Examples of unpleasant in a Sentence

I stopped taking the drug because of its unpleasant side effects.

There was an unpleasant smell coming from the basement.

The weather is so unpleasant here.

I like the shop, but the staff are so unpleasant.

Recent Examples on the Web

In extreme cases, some people may not be able to do certain activities or be in specific environments that could induce the unpleasant auditory experience. —Edward Segarra, USA Today, 5 Dec. 2025

Those suffering from it experience strong and unpleasant emotional, physiological and behavioral responses to sound, and sometimes visual triggers. —Vanessa Etienne, PEOPLE, 5 Dec. 2025

With enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies due to expire within days, some Senate Democrats are scrambling to protect millions of Americans from getting the unpleasant holiday gift of spiking health insurance premiums. —Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 5 Dec. 2025

Others showed a more unpleasant moment, like a dog noticing a vacuum cleaner. —Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for unpleasant

• omnipresent
• peasant
• pheasant
• pleasant
• present

Kids Definition

unpleasant

adjective

un·​pleas·​ant ˌən-ˈplez-ᵊnt 

ˈən-

: not pleasant : not friendly or agreeable : displeasing

unpleasantly adverb

unpleasantness noun