as in unpleasant
bad, harmful, or unpleasant
The drug has some undesirable side effects. This decision may have undesirable consequences.
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Recent Examples of undesirable
Throughout the series, characters in bigger bodies are depicted as abject, undesirable, and ill.
—
Virgie Tovar, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
In 1924, Calvin Coolidge signed the Johnson-Reed Act, which essentially banned immigration from the continents of Asia and Africa while also severely restricting immigration from Southern and Eastern Europe (then considered undesirable).
—Idrees Kahloon, The Atlantic, 18 Jan. 2026
And chopped is a word that kids use to describe something as ugly or undesirable.
—Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 15 Jan. 2026
Mike Tomlin’s future in Pittsburgh in question Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin tied an undesirable record Monday night with his seventh consecutive playoff defeat.
—Kevin Dotson, CNN Money, 13 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for undesirable
Virgie Tovar, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
In 1924, Calvin Coolidge signed the Johnson-Reed Act, which essentially banned immigration from the continents of Asia and Africa while also severely restricting immigration from Southern and Eastern Europe (then considered undesirable).
—Idrees Kahloon, The Atlantic, 18 Jan. 2026
And chopped is a word that kids use to describe something as ugly or undesirable.
—Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 15 Jan. 2026
Mike Tomlin’s future in Pittsburgh in question Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin tied an undesirable record Monday night with his seventh consecutive playoff defeat.
—Kevin Dotson, CNN Money, 13 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for undesirable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for undesirable
Adjective
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But blackouts have become an unpleasant routine.—
Israel Melendez Ayala,
Time,
28 Feb. 2026
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Standing water, combined with food residue, can create unpleasant odors.—
Jessica Safavimehr,
Southern Living,
27 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Smartphone makers have over the years gradually infused software with more AI tools—like the ability to search for something just by circling it on screen or erasing unwanted objects from photos.—
Lisa Eadicicco,
CNN Money,
25 Feb. 2026
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Avoid soap and commercial produce washes, which may leave an unwanted residue on your berries.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
25 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Whatever Americans think about what occurred this weekend, with the attendant death, economic disruption and other horrible human costs of war, to wish for anything other than that is to betray the brave Iranian people and its worried but hopeful diaspora, amply represented in our city.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Mar. 2026
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Iran has used those missiles, again, in a horrible way, firing them into cities and civilian centers in Israel.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
28 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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That downtrend was definitively broken in 2022 as the nastiest bout of inflation in 40 years took hold.—
Michael Khouw,
CNBC,
26 Feb. 2026
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After sets from intergenerational jam bands and folk-rock legends, the newest resident at Las Vegas’ Sphere will be a little louder and nastier than usual.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Undesirable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/undesirable. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.
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