UNATTRACTIVE Synonyms: 72 Similar and Opposite Words

unattractive

adjective

ˌən-ə-ˈtrak-tiv

Definition of unattractive

as in ugly

unpleasant to look at an unattractive, awkward baby bird

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of unattractive Investors want compensation for the fiscal risk, making long-duration Treasuries unattractive compared to other assets. — Joshua Hong, Fortune, 18 Aug. 2026 The tens of thousands of people traveling at once and the road closures near the stadium and Atlanta park made driving very unattractive. — Doug Turnbull, AJC.com, 2 Aug. 2026 Not at all times because catastrophes happen and underwriting can sometimes get so crowded that the pricing becomes unattractive. — Josh Brown,sean Russo, CNBC, 20 July 2026 Those efforts have run into obstacles at times, with critics charging that the protections could make the state unattractive for business development. — P.r. Lockhart, Hartford Courant, 17 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for unattractive

Recent Examples of Synonyms for unattractive

Adjective

In 2022, the Dolphins were mired in a five-game losing streak late in the season and somehow found a way to scratch out an ugly victory against the New York Jets, 11-6, in the finale to earn a wildcard playoff berth.

— Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 24 Sep. 2026
As climate change continues to rear its ugly head, this summer has been particularly brutal for much of the planet.

— Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of ugly

Adjective

The identity of the unpleasing Lindsay Marriott’s slayer has no pressing interest.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 July 2026
The remarks not only referred to the aesthetics of the game – tedious matches devoid of skillful merit that were unpleasing to watch.

— Cesar R. Torres, The Conversation, 26 May 2026

Definition of unpleasing

Adjective

Another reason to feel supreme confidence in this team’s juggernaut potential is that Chicago’s defense appears to be just as hideous as the fantasy community had hoped.

— Andy Behrens, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026
Three seconds later, I was surrounded by hideous monsters who were probably nice kids before the local NBC news devoted the feature story on their prime-time show Weekend to an in-depth study of English punk.

— Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of hideous

Adjective

But where Hwan’s Christianity is a willful, grotesque misreading of the Bible, Latif actively wrestles with his moral shortcomings.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026
Oppenheim has persuasively rendered a grotesque phenomenon, but his curiosity seems to stop at how everyone and everything looked.

— Justin Chang, New Yorker, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of grotesque

Browse Nearby Words

unattended

unattractive

unattractiveness

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Unattractive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unattractive. Accessed 1 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of unattractive

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

slew

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Oct. 2

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

Popular

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes