1
as in unpleasant
not giving pleasure to the mind or senses
Sunday night is often spoiled by the unlovely thought of having to go back to school or work the next morning
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in ugly
unpleasant to look at
an unlovely but efficient little machine
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unlovely
In so doing, the state has taken a wholly worthwhile cause — the cause of individual choice — and sullied it with an unlovely combination of hypocrisy and two-bit protectionism.
—
The Editors, National Review, 7 May 2024
And this was something that goes by the very unlovely acronym of a BVLOS flight.
—IEEE Spectrum, 17 Apr. 2024
The insights are persuasive, but the language is decidedly unlovely.
—Maggie Doherty, The New Yorker, 15 Apr. 2024
And especially the heady years after reunification, when a global generation of designers and D.J.s reestablished the unlovely city as Europe’s beating heart.
—Jason Farago, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2024
See All Example Sentences for unlovely
The Editors, National Review, 7 May 2024
And this was something that goes by the very unlovely acronym of a BVLOS flight.
—IEEE Spectrum, 17 Apr. 2024
The insights are persuasive, but the language is decidedly unlovely.
—Maggie Doherty, The New Yorker, 15 Apr. 2024
And especially the heady years after reunification, when a global generation of designers and D.J.s reestablished the unlovely city as Europe’s beating heart.
—Jason Farago, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2024
See All Example Sentences for unlovely
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unlovely
Adjective
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This unpleasant odor, Smith explained, is the result of something called asparagusic acid, which is unique to the vegetable.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
14 Mar. 2026
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In addition to unpleasant flavors, how your flour smells or looks can indicate spoilage.—
Hannah Lee Leidy,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
13 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The Anaheim Ducks’ captain took out the left leg of Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews with a knee-on-knee hit during the second period Thursday night, one of the uglier hits of the 2025-26 season.—
James Mirtle,
New York Times,
13 Mar. 2026
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But as the film quietly signals, a society’s obscenities are not aberrations, only parts of an ugly chapter in a long history.—
Michael Snyder,
The Atlantic,
13 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Rosemary makes one of the best companion plants for apple trees because of its strong scent that's unpleasing to critters looking to snack on a juicy red apple.—
Ashlyn Needham,
The Spruce,
16 Feb. 2026
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Smears on non-sensor areas of the tiara are like bug debris on your hood, aesthetically unpleasing but not harmful.—
Eric Tegler,
Popular Mechanics,
1 Oct. 2019
Adjective
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Suddenly the whole thing seemed like a hideous dream.—
Elwyn "Bud" Myers,
Outdoor Life,
11 Mar. 2026
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One of most hideous images in American poetry, and yet one of the most memorable.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Senegal 's parliament has approved a new bill that toughens punishment for homosexuality in the largely Muslim West African nation, the latest African country to impose harsh penalties against the LGBTQ+ community.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
12 Mar. 2026
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Audrey Sterk of Audrey Sterk Design teamed up with Chip Webster Architecture and Reid Builders to use durable composite countertops and weather-resistant cabinetry to ensure this outdoor kitchen will last, even in this harsh island environment.—
Megan Johnson,
Architectural Digest,
12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The editorial board has offered tone-deaf takes on the Iran war detached from its grotesque, senseless reality.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Mar. 2026
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The airstrike, allegedly part of an offensive targeting an Iranian military complex nearby, provided a grotesque example of the horrors unfolding since the beginning of the US-Israel war on Iran late last month.—
Victor Tangermann,
Futurism,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Nobody paid much attention to weather forecasts because winter days were usually the same and, if different, just worse.—
Bradley Gitz,
Arkansas Online,
16 Mar. 2026
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Jokic eagerly took advantage of bad transition defense, looking for long outlet passes to Braun and Bruce Brown.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
15 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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But few teams bring a nastier one-two wallop than the Lakers, who kept the forward busy flitting back and forth between Dončić and LeBron James.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Mar. 2026
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The other, maybe more difficult half, is making sure the stuff is nasty enough.—
Tim Britton,
New York Times,
12 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unlovely.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unlovely. Accessed 16 Mar. 2026.
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