UNCOMPLIMENTARY Synonyms: 78 Similar and Opposite Words

uncomplimentary

adjective

ˌən-ˌkäm-plə-ˈmen-tə-rē

Definition of uncomplimentary

as in insulting

intended to make a person or thing seem of little importance or value an uncomplimentary description of the town in which the writer grew up

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 uncomplimentary Neither party admitted to liability and each agreed to refrain from making disparaging, negative or uncomplimentary statements about the other, the document said. — Lorraine Mirabella, Baltimore Sun, 29 July 2022 Though the pollen gunk will pass, he's concerned by a contingent of Twitter trolls who've shared uncomplimentary reviews of his recent North American tour. — Jordan Runtagh, PEOPLE.com, 21 Jan. 2022 Reviews from Rolling Stone and The New York Times were similarly uncomplimentary, and were soon pulled from publication following Lennon's murder. — Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY, 9 Dec. 2020 The nation’s capital is replete with lawyers, and thus lawyer jokes (most of them uncomplimentary). — George Weigel, National Review, 2 Dec. 2019 An uncomplimentary set of players under two head coaches with no plan, Spurs stumbled their way to sixth place somehow, despite their best efforts to finish in the bottom half. — SI.com, 21 Oct. 2019 In this case, the noun brickbat, meaning a hard object like a brick that’s used as a missile or an uncomplimentary remark, gave us the verb brickbat, meaning to launch one of these physical or verbal weapons. — June Casagrande, Burbank Leader, 10 Oct. 2019 The recent protests have included uncomplimentary references to la junta — the local name for the oversight board. — Los Angeles Times, 20 July 2019

Recent Examples of Synonyms for uncomplimentary

Adjective

Some job seekers say AI interviews can feel impersonal, stilted, and downright insulting.

— Sarah Jackson Juhohn Lee, CNBC, 15 Sep. 2026
Even more insulting was the cold, transactional nature of the intrusion.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of insulting

Adjective

The Webster Wallace profile is responsible for several other derogatory posts about the mayor, as well.

— Reed Williams, AJC.com, 21 Sep. 2026
Cincinnati athletic director John Cunningham also issued an apology in November to BYU and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for derogatory chants by fans during the Bearcats’ game against the Cougars.

— ABC News, ABC News, 20 Sep. 2026

Definition of derogatory

Adjective

According to Microsoft, cybercriminals commonly embed QR codes with malicious URLs directly in the body of emails or within attachments.

— Benjamin Claeys, Forbes.com, 25 Sep. 2026
Owen McIntire, 20, of Parkville, faces one count of malicious destruction of property and one count of unlawful possession of an unregistered destructive device for the March 2025 incident.

— Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of malicious

Adjective

Felix points to Trump’s disparaging and false comments against Haitians in Springfield, Ohio, which put a target on the back of many Haitian immigrants.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 29 Apr. 2026
The irony is that Trump has been more disparaging and dismissive of the military than any other president.

— Joe Garofoli, San Francisco Chronicle, 17 Mar. 2026

Definition of disparaging

Adjective

Leeman also said the jury was denied the full context of Allen’s time in solitary confinement, such as the audio depicting demeaning and extreme behavior.

— Jen Guadarrama, IndyStar, 21 Sep. 2026
Chanen is among a new generation of wives and girlfriends of pro athletes, aka WAGs, who have proudly reclaimed the once-demeaning term.

— Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of demeaning

Adjective

This subsided with unusual speed, however, as cricket fans took instead to sharing the self-deprecatory jokes coming over the border.

— The Economist, The Economist, 22 June 2019
Philipps has acquired her 1-million-and-growing Instagram followers through her self-deprecatory humor, raw honesty and vulnerability.

— Sonja Haller, USA TODAY, 11 July 2018

Definition of deprecatory

Adjective

Below the surface, there is a lot of contemptuous finger-pointing about where the anti-AI energy now coursing through the political-media landscape is coming from.

— David Weigel, semafor.com, 16 Sep. 2026
Relative to the contemptuous silence of the Mike Ashley regime, there is no comparison — but even when compared to previous post-takeover administrations, Newcastle are being more communicative.

— Chris Waugh, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of contemptuous

Browse Nearby Words

uncomplicated

uncomplimentary

uncompromising

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“Uncomplimentary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/uncomplimentary. Accessed 29 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of uncomplimentary

adjective

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