Synonyms of unsympathetic

unsympathetic

adjective

ˌən-ˌsim-pə-ˈthe-tik 

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

• ruthless
• merciless
• stony
• callous
• abusive
• hard
• harsh
• oppressive
• insensitive
• heartless
• pitiless
• compassionless
• unfeeling
• cruel
• hard-hearted
• obdurate
• hateful
• uncharitable
• stern
• malicious
• brutal
• inhuman
• inhumane
• grim
• remorseless
• tough
• soulless
• unmerciful
• vicious
• thick-skinned
• affectless
• unsparing
• insensate
• cold-blooded
• indurate
• take-no-prisoners
• desensitized
• severe
• pachydermatous
• uncaring
• slash-and-burn
• hard-boiled
• case-hardened
• unfriendly
• inconsiderate
• thoughtless
• savage
• boorish
• ironhearted
• spiteful
• unloving
• rough
• mean
• unthinking
• stonyhearted
• heedless
• disagreeable
• ungentle
• malevolent
• surly
• virulent
• heavy-handed
• cold
• acrimonious
• brutish
• hard-bitten
• rough-and-tumble
• ill-natured
• barbarous
• jackbooted
• ironfisted
• rancorous
• ill-tempered
• bestial
• ironhanded
• evil-minded
• sledgehammer
• austere
• frosty
• knock-down, drag-out

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• sympathetic
• sensitive
• warm
• charitable
• compassionate
• humane
• merciful
• kindly
• benevolent
• gentle
• kind
• mild
• tender
• lenient
• friendly
• kindhearted
• softhearted
• indulgent
• gracious
• warmhearted
• tenderhearted
• cordial
• benignant
• tolerant
• loving
• affectionate
• understanding
• good-natured
• clement
• fond
• good-tempered

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

• icy
• frigid
• cold
• chilly
• brittle
• cool
• unfriendly
• reserved
• chill
• arctic
• frozen
• clammy
• detached
• glacial
• frosty
• antiseptic
• cold-blooded
• uncaring
• wintry
• hard-eyed
• pitiless
• heartless
• cold-eyed
• gelid
• uncordial
• coldish
• unfeeling
• unresponsive
• uninterested
• indifferent
• unemotional
• hard-hearted
• soulless
• unenthusiastic
• apathetic
• coldhearted
• aloof
• undemonstrative
• dispassionate
• impersonal
• standoffish
• bloodless
• antisocial
• unsociable
• offish
• unsocial
• kindless

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• sympathetic
• warm
• friendly
• happy
• cordial
• genial
• compassionate
• kind
• hearty
• emotional
• warmhearted
• expressive
• warm-blooded
• enthusiastic
• eager
• kindhearted
• demonstrative
• passionate

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• hostile
• negative
• adverse
• antagonistic
• contentious
• unfavorable
• inhospitable
• antipathetic
• opposed
• unfriendly
• unpleasant
• adversary
• adversarial
• conflicting
• inimical
• jaundiced
• mortal
• militant
• frigid
• icy
• belligerent
• contrary
• pugnacious
• malicious
• disagreeable
• combative
• resisting
• rude
• antisocial
• truculent
• bellicose
• distant
• disapproving
• unkind
• quarrelsome
• argumentative
• biased
• cold
• hateful
• disputatious
• vindictive
• discourteous
• inconsiderate
• prejudiced
• spiteful
• bitter
• surly
• clashing
• scrappy
• unsociable
• malevolent
• impolite
• malignant
• virulent
• uncivil
• impertinent
• unmannerly
• acrimonious
• unloving
• cool
• malign
• ill-mannered
• opprobrious
• rancorous
• ill-bred
• despiteful

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• sympathetic
• friendly
• hospitable
• social
• civil
• pleasant
• amiable
• warm
• gracious
• affable
• cordial
• amicable
• genial
• gregarious
• sociable
• convivial
• nonhostile
• neighborly
• affectionate
• companionable
• loving
• sweet
• kind
• nonantagonistic
• good-natured
• kindly
• nice
• devoted
• favorable
• benign
• empathetic
• agreeable
• good-tempered
• accepting
• comradely
• welcoming
• understanding
• warmhearted
• approving

4

as in negative

opposed to one's interests

an unsympathetic reaction to her proposal to ban trans fats from the company cafeteria

Synonyms & Similar Words

• hostile
• negative
• unfavorable
• adverse
• detrimental
• harmful
• damaging
• unfriendly
• destructive
• threatening
• prejudicial
• bad
• disadvantageous
• inimical
• counter
• dangerous
• hazardous
• untoward
• risky
• troublesome
• evil
• conflicting
• poisonous
• opposing
• malignant
• unsafe
• offensive
• pernicious
• injurious
• murderous
• hurtful
• lethal
• antagonistic
• deleterious
• ruinous
• fatal
• baneful
• noxious
• baleful
• perilous
• unhealthy
• ill
• uncooperative
• resistant
• inhospitable
• uncongenial
• intolerant
• slanderous
• scathing
• antipathetic
• resisting
• defamatory
• parlous
• detractive
• wounding
• calumnious
• competing
• imperiling
• jeopardizing
• counteracting
• countering

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• sympathetic
• positive
• favorable
• friendly
• supportive
• advantageous
• helpful
• useful
• good
• beneficial
• innocent
• harmless
• propitious
• innocuous
• inoffensive
• well-disposed
• nonthreatening
• nondestructive
• nonfatal
• tolerant
• friendly
• benign
• amiable
• agreeable
• congenial
• understanding
• affable
• hospitable
• cordial
• nonlethal
• amicable
• complying
• unresistant
• benignant

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of unsympathetic

Radcliffe has my highest admiration, notwithstanding the superb and more traditional work in this category by Nathan Lane, whose Willy Loman is agonizing to watch, and John Lithgow, who, like Chenoweth, was also willing to take on the role of a deeply unsympathetic character. — Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 6 May 2026

Keeping emotions private is a better strategy under unsympathetic Universal stars; a misunderstanding could be hard to correct now. — Magi Helena, Dallas Morning News, 1 Mar. 2026

But Rosebush Pruning is not funny enough to get away with its abrasiveness or make its unsympathetic characters palatable. — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 14 Feb. 2026

The visit was condemned by Iranians, from regime supporters to anti-government activists, who were opposed to monarchy and unsympathetic to Israel. — Eric Lob, The Conversation, 23 Jan. 2026