1
as in icy
lacking in friendliness or warmth of feeling
the unfriendly looks quickly warmed when we were recognized as long-unseen relatives
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in hostile
marked by opposition or ill will
an unfriendly nation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in negative
opposed to one's interests
the claim that the state's numerous regulations create a climate unfriendly to small businesses
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unfriendly
The designation is usually reserved for firms in unfriendly countries, such as China’s Huawei, and theoretically means Anthropic cannot work with any companies with military contracts.
—
Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 6 Mar. 2026
While not gruff or unfriendly, the serious New York restaurateur carries a distinct tone of getting down to business, even when casually chatting about how the show has changed over time.
—Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 27 Feb. 2026
Compared with other cities, the model was less likely to associate Austin with being boring, stingy or unfriendly.
—Dante Motley, Austin American Statesman, 26 Feb. 2026
And the narrative around this state — high-tax, highly regulated, unfriendly to business — badly needs changing.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 23 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unfriendly
Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 6 Mar. 2026
While not gruff or unfriendly, the serious New York restaurateur carries a distinct tone of getting down to business, even when casually chatting about how the show has changed over time.
—Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 27 Feb. 2026
Compared with other cities, the model was less likely to associate Austin with being boring, stingy or unfriendly.
—Dante Motley, Austin American Statesman, 26 Feb. 2026
And the narrative around this state — high-tax, highly regulated, unfriendly to business — badly needs changing.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 23 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unfriendly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unfriendly
Adjective
-
Ladytron willed themselves into existence some 25 years ago, writing their names in the residue of icy-hot heroes like Kraftwerk, Soft Cell, and Gina X.—
Jesse Dorris,
Pitchfork,
2 Apr. 2026
-
This matter is the result of gases emitted by the Saturnian moons, particularly Enceladus, which is known to spray out icy plumes that originate from its subsurface ocean.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The 45th president’s victory in the crowded 2016 primary effectively toppled the existing Republican Establishment, injecting the party with a combination of populism and distrust that was especially hostile to the way things were done before.—
Alex J. Rouhandeh,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Customers will keep fighting back with dirty returns, unused reservations and hostile reviews.—
Christopher Elliott,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Court records and large-scale studies indicate that elite colleges’ race-aware and holistic admissions systems have operated as a negative factor for Asian American applicants, contributing to lower admission/attendance odds than similarly qualified white applicants.—
David Blobaum,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Apple’s latest iPhone software update is drawing attention—some of which is negative—not just for its incremental upgrades, but also for a shift in how users interact with one of its core apps.—
Thomas Westerholm,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Cover loosely with plastic wrap and chill until filling is set and cake is cold, at least 2 hours and up to 1 day.—
Shilpa Uskokovic,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Baristas sprinkled shredded phyllo dough over top heaps of cold foam.—
Jenna Thompson
April 1,
Kansas City Star,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The 2021 race was canceled due to COVID, then two successful races were held before the recent run of unfavorable weather.—
Anthony Bettin,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
-
YouGov puts his unfavorable tracker at -88%.—
Stu Strumwasser,
Fortune,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The collision underscores the growing battle in the frigid waters of the Southern Ocean over the future of Antarctic krill, a shrimplike crustacean central to the diet of whales and critical buffer to global warming that's also in demand for use in health supplements, fishmeal and other products.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Arizona might be warmer this time of year, but Chicago Cubs starter Jameson Taillon was happy to be dealing in frigid Wrigley Field on Tuesday night.—
Jeff Vorva,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The most common adverse events were falls and muscle weakness, which overlap with ALS symptoms.—
Angelica Stabile,
FOXNews.com,
3 Apr. 2026
-
When you're stressed or angry, your cortisol levels rise, which can have adverse effects on your heart, metabolism, and immune system.—
Sharon Basaraba,
Verywell Health,
3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Some parts of the nation are in for a chilly few days, but soon nearly everywhere will feel like spring — or summer.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Hours later, those fans sat bundled up in rainy, chilly conditions as a power outage hit parts of downtown Minneapolis, affecting Target Field.—
Betsy Helfand,
Twin Cities,
3 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unfriendly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unfriendly. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
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