1
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
4

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 unsavory The Dodgers immediately fired Mizuhara; investigations were launched by MLB and the IRS; and five days later, Ohtani issued a statement denying any role in a scandal that echoed unsavory chapters of the sport’s past. David Amsden, Rolling Stone, 29 Aug. 2025 The problem with that perspective is that if a user enters a prompt of some untoward nature, the odds are that society would expect the AI maker to have detected the unsavory matter. Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025 Jillian Michaels has loudly broken her silence on a contentious new docuseries on Netflix, which makes claims about the former The Biggest Loser cohost in a variety of its more unsavory scandals. Ryan Coleman Published, EW.com, 20 Aug. 2025 Opportunities, however, also create the unsavory proposition of negative reps that could make the staff’s decision for them. Luca Evans, Denver Post, 13 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for unsavory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unsavory
Adjective
  • But Republicans were determined to use the revenue produced by a cap to pay for marginal rate cuts that Democrats found distasteful.
    Joseph Thorndike, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
  • The artwork — a graphic close-up shot of a tiny American flag bikini on a woman’s pelvic area — was considered so distasteful by some that chain stores like Walmart and Kmart banned it at the time.
    David Browne, Rolling Stone, 12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Unlike previous seasons, Dorothy never makes immoral choices.
    Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
  • This is disgraceful and immoral.
    Armando Garcia, ABC News, 18 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • But the ever-reliable consumer is beginning to look shaky, courtesy of an unpleasant mix of a stagnating job market and sticky inflation.
    Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 29 Sep. 2025
  • The power is accompanied by a loud, unpleasant exhaust note.
    James Raia, Mercury News, 28 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Much like how Hailey and Justin Bieber dress, there is something charming about opposing couple style, and allowing each other to follow their individual tastes and passions, without blending into one bland unit.
    Christian Allaire, Vogue, 5 Oct. 2025
  • Jiang and his colleagues complain over video chat about their bland meals, but the people who produce, prepare and deliver the food remain invisible.
    Yangyang Cheng, NPR, 4 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Among the all-natural brands, the color might seem anathema, even unappetizing.
    Shayla Love, New Yorker, 8 Aug. 2025
  • Analysts have warned that political polarization and unappetizing electoral options for voters may well yield a fractured vote.
    Vasuki Shastry, Forbes.com, 25 July 2025
Adjective
  • The tort of battery, meaning unlawful and harmful physical contact, and intentional infliction of emotional distress, which refers to using extreme conduct to terrorize another, are potential claims.
    Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 6 Oct. 2025
  • Hoping to keep the Solar for All program on track, the group has asked a jury to declare the program's termination unlawful and issue an injunction requiring the EPA to reinstate the program.
    Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 6 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • 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
  • 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
  • The water pressure then causes the vehicle to rise and slide on a thin layer of water between the tires and the road, making the driver lose control.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Batteries without the filter lost power quickly, while batteries with the atom-thin filter retained almost all their capacity for more than 150 charge-discharge cycles.
    Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 2 Oct. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Unsavory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unsavory. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!