unhelpful

adjective

un·​help·​ful ˌən-ˈhelp-fəl How to pronounce unhelpful (audio)
Southern often -ˈhep-
also -ˈheəp-
Synonyms of unhelpfulnext
: offering no assistance : not helpful
a rude, unhelpful person
a confusing and unhelpful textbook
unhelpfully adverb
unhelpfulness noun

Examples of unhelpful in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
What might be good health advice for your cousin might be unhelpful or potentially harmful for you. — Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 21 Aug. 2026 Countless recipe cards don this very unhelpful tip on how long to cook something. — Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 20 Aug. 2026 Mikel Arteta has spent years stripping unhelpful sentimentality out of Arsenal. — James McNicholas, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026 Wall Street may now be wondering why one of its own is proving so surprisingly unhelpful. — Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 19 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unhelpful

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1616, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unhelpful was circa 1616

Rhymes for unhelpful

See All Rhymes for unhelpful

Browse Nearby Words

unhelped
unhelpful
unhelping
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Unhelpful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unhelpful. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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