unpolished

adjective

un·​pol·​ished ˌən-ˈpä-lisht How to pronounce unpolished (audio)
Synonyms of unpolishednext
: not polished
unpolished gemstones
a talented but unpolished performer
an unpolished rough draft

Examples of unpolished in a Sentence

an unpolished but well-meaning young man
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 album was controversial, as Springsteen insisted on releasing no singles, not doing any press or a tour and retaining the songs’ unpolished sound, much to the initial chagrin of Columbia Records. Andrew McGowan, Variety, 15 Jan. 2026 Where oversized, chunky, rounded silhouettes read as frumpy and unpolished, this does the exact opposite. Kaelin Dodge, InStyle, 13 Jan. 2026 They are unpolished, unethereal and take a perhaps more head-on approach than audiences are used to seeing. Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 19 Dec. 2025 There was the campus, red brick and lush grass, an offbeat blend of 20th-century construction and New England charm that felt unpolished in the best way. Lucy Feldman, Time, 17 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for unpolished

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unpolished was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Unpolished.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unpolished. Accessed 21 Jan. 2026.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!