UNDESIRABLE Synonyms: 128 Similar and Opposite Words

undesirable

adjective

Definition of undesirable

as in unpleasant

bad, harmful, or unpleasant The drug has some undesirable side effects. This decision may have undesirable consequences.

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

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 undesirable Preventing undesirable baboon behaviour, like raiding food, is easier than trying to tackle it once it’s become engrained. — Will Barker, TheWeek, 5 Oct. 2026 Other Problems Coffee Grounds May Cause Besides causing nutrient issues, coffee grounds can create conditions that make life harder for your orchids while attracting undesirable guests. — Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Sep. 2026 However, even though each individual layer relies on a smooth forcing function, combining them together can cause the forcing function to have undesirable mathematical properties. — Konstantin Kakaes, Quanta Magazine, 8 Sep. 2026 Instead of punishing undesirable behavior by withholding money, buycotts encourage consumers to reward companies by spending with a purpose. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 7 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for undesirable

Recent Examples of Synonyms for undesirable

Adjective

From a computational perspective, Friston argues, attempting to reduce uncertainty—basically, working to avoid unpleasant surprises—is the brain’s primary goal.

— Maia Szalavitz, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
Adapted by Duffield and Daniel Kraus from Kraus’ 2023 novel, this spectacularly unpleasant underwater adventure delivers on its premise with effects that are graphic, fascinating, and occasionally beautiful.

— Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of unpleasant

Adjective

Rocket Money's Premium tier is able to cancel eligible unwanted subscriptions on your behalf and, with a Premium+ account, Rocket Money can negotiate certain recurring bills on your behalf, including cable, internet, phone and home security.

— Dan Avery, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2026
Those unwanted jobs range from library boards that decide what books to purchase and put on shelves to school boards that help set education policy to village presidents to township supervisors.

— CBS News, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of unwanted

Adjective

There’s a big data center that just came to my community not long ago and their community engagement was horrible, absolutely horrible.

— Dustin DeSoto, Vox, 16 Oct. 2026
After the third day of squirting an experimental drug up his nose, Dylan Meetze felt horrible.

— Amy Maxmen, Miami Herald, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of horrible

Adjective

The polls still show a close-range contest, but in the increasingly nasty ad war, the spending suggests a far more lopsided fight.

— Philip Elliott, Time, 19 Oct. 2026
Officers then cuffed the youngster as he was loaded into an ambulance and hospitalized for a fractured femur and a nasty bruise on his head, according to the lawsuit, which was filed by the teen’s dad, Mahmoud Saleh, in Brooklyn Federal Court.

— John Annese, New York Daily News, 18 Oct. 2026