unsavory

adjective

un·​sa·​vory ˌən-ˈsā-və-rē 

-ˈsāv-rē

1

: insipid, tasteless

2

a

: unpleasant to taste or smell

b

: disagreeable, distasteful

an unsavory assignment

especially : morally offensive

unsavory business practices

Synonyms

• brackish
• distasteful
• unappetizing
• unpalatable
• yucky
• yukky

Examples of unsavory in a Sentence

He is an unsavory character.

an unsavory blend of spices that simply overwhelmed the fish's delicate flavor

Recent Examples on the Web

Walters had a friendship with unsavory lawyer Roy Cohn, who pulled strings to make her father’s tax problems go away. —Stephen Battaglio, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2025

Nicole, for one, had a history of being accused of unsavory business practices. —John McDermott, HollywoodReporter, 19 June 2025

By then, the exhibitor’s wife had penned five separate three-page adventures featuring Jasper Gunn and his unsavory crew, sold for a penny apiece. —Hazlitt, 18 June 2025

A lot of her actions so far have been unsavory to say the least. —Liza Esquibias, People.com, 17 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for unsavory

• proslavery
• antislavery
• bravery
• knavery
• savory
• slavery

Kids Definition

unsavory

adjective

un·​sa·​vory ˌən-ˈsāv(-ə)-rē 

ˈən-

1

: having little or no taste

2

: having a bad taste or smell

3

: morally bad