unpleasant

adjective

un·​pleas·​ant ˌən-ˈple-zᵊnt How to pronounce unpleasant (audio)
Synonyms of unpleasantnext
: not pleasant : not amiable or agreeable : displeasing
unpleasant odors
unpleasantly adverb

Synonyms of unpleasant

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Examples of unpleasant in a Sentence

I stopped taking the drug because of its unpleasant side effects. There was an unpleasant smell coming from the basement. The weather is so unpleasant here. I like the shop, but the staff are so unpleasant.
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.
And of course, any bottle that has an unpleasant smell, sour taste, or lots of floating particles or mold is spoiled and should be thrown out. — Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 28 Aug. 2026 Cedarwood Oil Cedarwood is another essential oil with an unpleasant smell to mice as well as other pests. — Emily Benda Gaylord, The Spruce, 28 Aug. 2026 The mediocre screen was an unpleasant surprise given that this thing advertised 100 percent sRGB gamut coverage when it was announced and on its product page for many weeks (the Internet Archive captures it here). — ArsTechnica, 24 Aug. 2026 But as John Ternus prepares to take the CEO job just over one week from now, the timing seems designed to get some unpleasant work out of the way and let the new boss come in with clean hands. — Alexei Oreskovic, Fortune, 24 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unpleasant

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unpleasant was in the 15th century

Rhymes for unpleasant

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Browse Nearby Words

unplayable
unpleasant
unpleasantness
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Cite this Entry

“Unpleasant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unpleasant. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

unpleasant

adjective
un·​pleas·​ant ˌən-ˈplez-ᵊnt How to pronounce unpleasant (audio)
ˈən-
: not pleasant : not friendly or agreeable : displeasing
unpleasantly adverb
unpleasantness noun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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