unimaginative

adjective

un·​imag·​i·​na·​tive
ˌən-ə-ˈmaj-nə-tiv;
-ˈma-jə-ˌnā-,
-nə- How to pronounce unimaginative (audio)
: having or showing a lack of imagination or originality : not imaginative
unimaginative people
an unimaginative menu
a predictable and unimaginative plot
unimaginatively adverb
… this is a simple, straightforward survey, competently if unimaginatively presented … Alan Knight
unimaginativeness noun

Examples of unimaginative in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Philadelphia’s defense has been getting shredded and Nick Sirianni’s offense has become unimaginative and stagnant. Victoria Hernandez, USA TODAY, 3 Jan. 2024 In contrast to those works, Ferrari feels bizarrely dull and unimaginative in its approach to its visual world. Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 22 Dec. 2023 But differences in tempo and sentiment aside, both songs feel dull, dry, unimaginative, unnecessary, unconfident and uncool. Chris Richards, Washington Post, 13 Feb. 2024 Future crossover potential aside, Clarkson’s approach feels like a throwback to the kind of unimaginative superhero movies Hollywood produced before Marvel got its act together over at Disney. Peter Debruge, Variety, 13 Feb. 2024 Yet while middle managers have a huge amount to contribute to organizational success, they can sometimes be accused of being unimaginative, inflexible blockers to progress. Sally Percy, Forbes, 28 Nov. 2023 Part of that convincing is an inordinate amount of self-confidence, the kind of self-aggrandizing that leads to unimaginative fan service albums that have bogged down the major label rap ecosystem. Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 22 Nov. 2023 Certainly not the grisly but unimaginative death-match arena action in which dutifully diverse but thinly drawn characters identifiable chiefly by their disabilities or degrees of brutality meet their makers in front of a live TV audience. David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Nov. 2023 Likewise, the story’s more hallucinatory aspects get realized via such strenuous but unimaginative devices such as David Matthews’ camera spinning 360 degrees like a pinwheel. Dennis Harvey, Variety, 26 Oct. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'unimaginative.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1814, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unimaginative was in 1814

Dictionary Entries Near unimaginative

Cite this Entry

“Unimaginative.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unimaginative. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

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