1
as in ruthless
having or showing a lack of sympathy or tender feelings
gave them an unsympathetic look and pointed out that they'd brought the problem on themselves
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in icy
lacking in friendliness or warmth of feeling
an aloof and unsympathetic man who does not engage in small talk
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in hostile
marked by opposition or ill will
a bohemian artist who found the unsympathetic environment of the small town too much to bear
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4
as in negative
opposed to one's interests
an unsympathetic reaction to her proposal to ban trans fats from the company cafeteria
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unsympathetic
What if your neighbor is unsympathetic?
—
Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 30 Sep. 2025
The trial court dismissed Jankowicz’s action, and on appeal the Third Circuit was unsympathetic.
—Stephen L. Carter, Mercury News, 19 Sep. 2025
The trial court dismissed Jankowicz’s action, and on appeal the Third Circuit was unsympathetic.
—Stephen L. Carter, Twin Cities, 18 Sep. 2025
DeSantis, who is also an assistant football coach, was unsympathetic, the suit says.
—Corky Siemaszko, NBC news, 17 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unsympathetic
Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 30 Sep. 2025
The trial court dismissed Jankowicz’s action, and on appeal the Third Circuit was unsympathetic.
—Stephen L. Carter, Mercury News, 19 Sep. 2025
The trial court dismissed Jankowicz’s action, and on appeal the Third Circuit was unsympathetic.
—Stephen L. Carter, Twin Cities, 18 Sep. 2025
DeSantis, who is also an assistant football coach, was unsympathetic, the suit says.
—Corky Siemaszko, NBC news, 17 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unsympathetic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unsympathetic
Adjective
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The Bills are ruthless in the red zone, and don’t have much need for either a kicker or punter, but Prater and Mitch Wishnowsky have both had solid seasons.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
15 Jan. 2026
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Our federally dependent market must endure three more years of a ruthless and petty federal administration with a national mandate to cut spending.—
Torrey Snow,
Baltimore Sun,
14 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Spring Arbor Township Police and the Spring Arbor Township Fire Department worked together to rescue the dog from the icy pond after receiving a 911 call about the pooch.—
Raven Brunner,
PEOPLE,
15 Jan. 2026
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Last month, Lohan embraced wintertime dressing by putting an icy spin on the classic cocktail dress.—
Hannah Malach,
InStyle,
15 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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For example, if one aircraft that looks like a civilian plane launches a missile, the enemy might have a reason to believe other civilian aircraft are potentially hostile.—
Eleanor Watson,
CBS News,
14 Jan. 2026
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During the Cold War, administrations authorized CIA operations against hostile regimes engaged in subversion and criminal conduct.—
Timothy M. Herbst,
Hartford Courant,
13 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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For decades, researchers have compared places with higher and lower levels of pollutants and have looked at differences in premature deaths and other negative health outcomes while controlling for other factors that could affect those numbers.—
Andrea Thompson,
Scientific American,
14 Jan. 2026
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The Iowa Board of Educational Examiners is now being sued for soliciting complaints about teachers who made negative public comments about Charlie Kirk in the wake of the conservative activist’s death last fall.—
Clark Kauffman,
Des Moines Register,
14 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Iran’s attorney general has vowed to pursue merciless legal action against the latter, including the death penalty.—
Hira Humayun,
CNN Money,
12 Jan. 2026
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With a merciless 56-22 thumping of Oregon in the Peach Bowl, the Hoosiers punched their ticket to their first national championship game appearance in program history.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
10 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Despite the dangerously frigid conditions outside, Bieganek is thrilled that, after a few thin years, the lake is nearly frozen solid.—
Stephanie Pearson,
Outside,
14 Jan. 2026
-
The shooting spree came less than 24 hours after the Lakers, who rank 24th in three-point shooting percentage, were a frigid eight for 36 from deep against Sacramento.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Just remember that Joe Biden’s administration had four years to open the files and disclose any possible news unfavorable to the Republicans.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
9 Jan. 2026
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While 48% of the respondents who had heard of Talarico viewed him positively and 18% viewed him negatively, 48% of respondents familiar with Crockett had an unfavorable impression compared with the 40% who viewed her positively.—
John C. Moritz,
Austin American Statesman,
5 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Without prosecutors empowered to bring charges against wrongdoers, judges willing to strike down overreach, legislators daring enough to demand investigations and change laws, and citizens outraged enough to protest, any revelations by journalists will fall on stony ground.—
Susan Chira,
Foreign Affairs,
2 Dec. 2025
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After that historic journey, NASA charted a new course toward Apophis, a stony metal-rich NEA that offers a sharp scientific contrast to Bennu's carbon-rich composition (and was once thought to pose a serious impact risk to Earth).—
Samantha Mathewson,
Space.com,
28 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unsympathetic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unsympathetic. Accessed 16 Jan. 2026.
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