1
as in harmful
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2
as in impractical
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3
as in impolite
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unhelpful
The chatbot was deeply flawed, almost entirely inaccurate at times, and ultimately unhelpful for residents trying to navigate city services.
—
Julie Samuels, New York Daily News, 22 Feb. 2026
The Saudis saw this as highly provocative, as unhelpful to the anti-Houthi coalition in Yemen, and as a threat, because of the Yemeni-Saudi border, to Saudi security.
—Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 17 Feb. 2026
In this context, the punch serves as a means for controlling unhelpful partners.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Mostly, Jamie is crushed by the weight of her own unfulfilled potential, further pointed out by her tinkering, emotionally unhelpful mother.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 26 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unhelpful
Julie Samuels, New York Daily News, 22 Feb. 2026
The Saudis saw this as highly provocative, as unhelpful to the anti-Houthi coalition in Yemen, and as a threat, because of the Yemeni-Saudi border, to Saudi security.
—Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 17 Feb. 2026
In this context, the punch serves as a means for controlling unhelpful partners.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Mostly, Jamie is crushed by the weight of her own unfulfilled potential, further pointed out by her tinkering, emotionally unhelpful mother.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 26 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unhelpful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unhelpful
Adjective
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Giamanco said the Civil Liability for Doxing Act protects a citizen from being deliberately targeted with false and harmful material.—
Michelle Mullins,
Chicago Tribune,
23 Mar. 2026
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Attorneys for Meta dispute the claims and say the company incorporates protections for teenagers and weeds out harmful content, while also acknowledging that some potentially harmful posts get past its safety nets.—
Morgan Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The creator notes the concept suits cabins, RVs, and off-grid structures particularly well — anywhere grid ties are impractical or expensive.—
Munis Raza,
Interesting Engineering,
24 Mar. 2026
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Stylists also caution against looks that feel overly themed or impractical.—
Katie Ann Lehman,
StyleCaster,
24 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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But as athletes have grown more comfortable publicly revealing their mental health battles, most good-faith actors have grown more careful labeling failure in such impolite fashion.—
Sean Gregory,
Time,
18 Feb. 2026
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Not a historical correction, but an emotional one: an impolite acknowledgment of something people feel they are usually expected to soften, qualify, or leave unsaid.—
Philip Martin,
Washington Post,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The strategic coordination, while aggressive, reflected legitimate political calculations to minimize costly primary contests during an unfavorable midterm environment for Republicans.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Mar. 2026
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Time, of course, moves slower in unfavorable situations, like running on a treadmill.—
Jessica Sulima,
Condé Nast Traveler,
17 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Her old septic system was not designed to handle the soggy soil in her leach field, rendering the system unusable for six months out of the year.—
Tim Carter,
Hartford Courant,
21 Mar. 2026
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Our goal is to hire a seamstress who can re-create things for us from those unusable items.—
Sandra Barrera,
Daily News,
20 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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And that’s a pretty thoughtless way to approach a conflict that’s already killed so many.—
Natalie Oganesyan,
Deadline,
15 Mar. 2026
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Scenes meant to convey fondness and dramatic weight instead flatten into thoughtless repetition, as the series’ decades-long dissection of the final girl reveals itself as a stale brand asset.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
26 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Lebohang Morake — the Grammy-winning South African composer behind the film’s opening Zulu vocals — filed a federal civil complaint in California on March 16 against the comedian, Learnmore Jonasi, alleging that the translation is false and damaging to his life’s work.—
Joe Kottke,
NBC news,
27 Mar. 2026
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In neighboring Croatia, winds swept through the capital of Zagreb on Thursday afternoon and overnight, crashing trees, damaging city tram lines and roofs.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Bernadine appeared to be useless—or, worse, a potential double agent.—
David D. Kirkpatrick,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
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Sending your resume into the void has never felt more useless.—
Catherina Gioino,
Fortune,
23 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unhelpful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unhelpful. Accessed 30 Mar. 2026.
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