1
as in distasteful
disagreeable or disgusting to the sense of taste
an unsavory blend of spices that simply overwhelmed the fish's delicate flavor
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in immoral
not conforming to a high moral standard; morally unacceptable
unsavory doings that ruined the couple's good name in the community
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in unpleasant
not giving pleasure to the mind or senses
hated the whole unsavory business of firing people
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in bland
lacking in taste or flavor
the unsavory food dished up at the rest area's restaurant should be consumed only by the truly desperate
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unsavory
In recent weeks, complaints have been filed against Temu and Shein in the EU, accusing them of unsavory business tactics.
—
Dylan Butts, CNBC, 10 June 2025
Not surprisingly, a model trained in this matter, such as the original GPT-3, can generate responses that drift in eccentric directions, perhaps even into dangerous or unsavory territory.
—Cal Newport, New Yorker, 3 June 2025
The dinner, critics argued, compounded that risk by making the unsavory arrangement explicit: a large investment in return for an encounter with Trump.
—Joel Khalili, Wired News, 23 May 2025
In the end, modern pressures, such as the cost of transporting horses, an unsavory incident at the Tokyo Olympics where a coach allegedly punched a horse, and the need to draw a wider TV audience combined to force UPIM’s hand.
—Blythe Lawrence, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for unsavory
Dylan Butts, CNBC, 10 June 2025
Not surprisingly, a model trained in this matter, such as the original GPT-3, can generate responses that drift in eccentric directions, perhaps even into dangerous or unsavory territory.
—Cal Newport, New Yorker, 3 June 2025
The dinner, critics argued, compounded that risk by making the unsavory arrangement explicit: a large investment in return for an encounter with Trump.
—Joel Khalili, Wired News, 23 May 2025
In the end, modern pressures, such as the cost of transporting horses, an unsavory incident at the Tokyo Olympics where a coach allegedly punched a horse, and the need to draw a wider TV audience combined to force UPIM’s hand.
—Blythe Lawrence, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for unsavory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unsavory
Adjective
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As Kelli storms off, Brit yells the distasteful comment about Kelli’s abortions, following it up by calling her a hobbit, and the rest of the women reflexively gasp, knowing how low of a blow such a statement is.—
Ile-Ife Okantah,
Vulture,
23 June 2025
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Unfortunately, Canadians found the carbon pricing system confusing and distasteful.—
Hersh Shefrin,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2025
Adjective
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Though the organization had a history of taking action against (supposedly) immoral ministers, Kunstler had no direct evidence to prove this was the case with Rev. Hall.—
Jordan Runtagh,
People.com,
27 June 2025
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His plan calls for demanding that messages not change more frequently than every four seconds, not include flashing lights and not include obscene, indecent or immoral content.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 June 2025
Adjective
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Diana, for example, when anything unpleasant was said in her presence, would slowly blink her eyes in an incredible act of denial.—
Rosemary Counter,
Time,
25 June 2025
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Some of these vitamins have quality issues, like a fishy or unpleasant taste.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
25 June 2025
Adjective
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Listen to one after another, though, and the bland muddiness exposes them as a machine creation.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
30 June 2025
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Recent coverage on Forbes warns that overuse of AI in newsrooms could lead to bland, unoriginal content that erodes trust.—
Ron Schmelzer,
Forbes.com,
29 June 2025
Adjective
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Think eggs to order but fiction, served on the same plate as the most unappetizing breakfast imaginable.—
Elisabeth Egan,
New York Times,
2 June 2025
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Even if Cameron is fortunate enough to avert further unrest, the menu for the remainder of his term remains an unappetizing mix of austerity and vague appeals for moral renewal.—
Jonathan Hopkin,
Foreign Affairs,
18 Aug. 2011
Adjective
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Jorge Garibay said in a statement Friday, adding that the efforts were aimed at reducing fire risk and unlawful activity throughout the city.—
Jason Green,
Mercury News,
28 June 2025
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The court cited the First Amendment (freedom of speech), the Fourth Amendment (protection against unlawful search and seizure), and the Fourteenth Amendment (due process and equal protection).—
Ashley Fredde,
Idaho Statesman,
27 June 2025
Adjective
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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
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His side's inability to finish off the game against Burnley on the other hand was very unpleasing.—
SI.com,
SI.com,
1 Feb. 2018
Adjective
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Each version features flattering ruching at the midsection, thin straps for minimal tan lines, and dozens of colors to choose from.—
Alesandra Dubin,
Travel + Leisure,
30 June 2025
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When done correctly, gen AI allows agents to focus on complex, high-value conversations, while also training and guiding AI to reflect the company’s voice, tone and brand values, instead of being stretched thin across repetitive tasks.—
Priya Vijayarajendran,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unsavory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unsavory. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.
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