SINCE 1828
unpleasantness
noun
un·pleas·ant·ness
| \ ˌən-ˈple-zᵊnt-nəs
\
\
Definition of unpleasantness
1
: the quality or state of being unpleasant
2
: an unpleasant situation, experience, or event
Examples of unpleasantness in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Let’s face it: Our car-centric culture has forced much unpleasantness onto our cities, from traffic to parking shortages to pollution. — Umair Irfan, Vox, "The scooter stampede of 2018 is great news for urban transportation," 5 Dec. 2018 In the way of most such triangles, unpleasantness quickly ensues. — Moira Macdonald, The Seattle Times, "‘The Favourite’ review: an irresistibly nasty tale of lust, power and pet bunnies," 4 Dec. 2018 Or perhaps all the hiking, biking, kayaking, and SUP-ing opportunities that help residents work out any, er, unpleasantness. — Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, "The Friendliest Cities in the U.S.," 8 Aug. 2018 Mike was added to a revised and expanded list that September, possibly to avoid any unpleasantness at the Lee family Thanksgiving dinner. — Ed Kilgore, Daily Intelligencer, "The First Big SCOTUS Rumor Sends Senator Mike Lee to the Bench," 28 June 2018 Dew points are a couple points higher as well, which just adds to the utter unpleasantness. — Brian Jackson, Washington Post, "D.C.-area forecast: Sweltering conditions will persist through Independence Day," 1 July 2018 This is a more traditional horror setting than the well-manicured mansions of Brookline, Massachusetts, and The Handmaid’s Tale doesn’t skimp on the visual unpleasantness. — Anna Silman, The Cut, "The Most Traumatizing Moments From The Handmaid’s Tale Season Premiere," 25 Apr. 2018 In addition to human tempers, a Mars and Saturn meetup (with Mercury Rx in the mix) creates a state of general unpleasantness: traffic snarls, court summons, app crashes, looming deadlines, insecurity, and fears of failure. — refinery29.com, "Your Horoscope This Week," 25 Mar. 2018 Mute contains some unwelcome passages of cruelty and homophobia, and a subplot revealing Duck to be a pedophile only adds to the unpleasantness. — Ben Sachs, Chicago Reader, "Film / Small Screen The future is now in Duncan Jones's Mute," 16 Mar. 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'unpleasantness.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Keep scrolling for more
Comments on unpleasantness
What made you want to look up unpleasantness? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Test Your Vocabulary
Finance Words Quiz
-
- The etymology of mortgage is related most closely to which two words?
Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!
TAKE THE QUIZ
Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games
Share unpleasantness
Resources for unpleasantness