UNPLEASANTLY Synonyms: 78 Similar and Opposite Words

unpleasantly

adverb

as in disagreeably

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 unpleasantly Cheeses made with moist milk mature faster and can develop unpleasantly pungent odors and flavors like ammonia. — Vivian Song, CNN Money, 6 Sep. 2026 The fly, devoid of its wings, appeared all the more unpleasantly fat and shiny. — Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026 Then Nicolas Tagliafico, a poor defender up against a great attacker in Lamine Yamal, took to attempting to foul the winger in four different ways at once, but most unpleasantly grazed his studs down Yamal’s calf. — Adam Crafton, New York Times, 20 July 2026 Alito is focussed on the ways today’s world is unpleasantly new for him. — Amy Davidson Sorkin, New Yorker, 30 June 2026 The sugars in corn kernels break down very fast, turning your corn unpleasantly starchy. — Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 2 June 2026 In warm weather, your kitchen can get unpleasantly hot when cooking in a standard oven. — Bestreviews, Mercury News, 20 May 2026 Checking the temperature is of utmost importance, since the meat is very lean and will be unpleasantly dry if overcooked. — The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Feb. 2026 Also not missed are the crass laughs of the slicker 2012 film, which had an unpleasantly cynical, snide edge. — Dennis Harvey, Variety, 11 Dec. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for unpleasantly

Adverb

The details on the new system are still months away, expected in February, which is getting awfully close to the start of the 2027-28 school year, when the changes are intended to be in effect.

— New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 20 Sep. 2026
So Tesla was claiming to get awfully close to that, match its top speed of about 256 mph (412 km/h), and deliver 621 miles (1,000 km) of range for a tenth of the price.

— Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of awfully

Adverb

Although Yamaha has been dreadfully slow about bringing its motorcycles to India, the R2 made its global debut there this week.

— Yamaha, New Atlas, 3 Sep. 2026
Made from 100 percent cotton, this lightweight number is extremely soft and a great option for dreadfully hot days.

— Caroline Hughes, Travel + Leisure, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of dreadfully

Adverb

Iryna Rybakova is horribly aware that the front line is inching toward Kramatorsk.

— Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2026
The show was also horribly paced, with way too many pointless instrumental spotlights that somehow managed to come across as both showy and lethargic at the same time.

— Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of horribly

Adverb

The Commanders badly need good news on the Daniels front because panic is this close to setting in.

— Armando Salguero OutKick, FOXNews.com, 22 Sep. 2026
The planters are original to the stadium’s 1962 construction, and many had crumbled badly enough over the decades to need painstaking repair.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of badly

Adverb

West Ham are relegated, sorry Spurs survive The odds were stacked against West Ham United beating relegation yesterday and even in a year when Tottenham Hotspur plumbed appallingly abject depths, few clubs deserved it more.

— Phil Hay, New York Times, 25 May 2026
With respect to humor’s inherent subjectivity, the appallingly ugly aesthetics of the AI overwhelm any possible comedic sensibility on display.

— Vikram Murthi, IndieWire, 15 May 2026

Definition of appallingly

Adverb

The less said about Bryan’s horrendously gauche fuchsia-and-gold dress with puffy armholes and halter neck the better.

— Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 31 July 2026
Too little regulation could allow the unleashing of devilish AI that might wipe us out or at least be horrendously destructive.

— Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026

Definition of horrendously

Browse Nearby Words

unpleasant

unpleasantly

unpleasantness

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Unpleasantly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unpleasantly. Accessed 24 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of unpleasantly

adverb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

pundit

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 25

Popular

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes