unpopular

adjective

un·​pop·​u·​lar ˌən-ˈpä-pyə-lər How to pronounce unpopular (audio)
Synonyms of unpopularnext
: not popular : viewed or received unfavorably by the public
unpopularity
ˌən-ˌpä-pyə-ˈler-ə-tē How to pronounce unpopular (audio)
-ˈla-rə-
noun
unpopularly adverb

Examples of unpopular in a Sentence

I was unpopular in high school. Her third album has been unpopular with fans. Recent conflicts have made him unpopular among the staff.
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.
The conflict has been unpopular and could weigh on voters as midterm elections near. — Matt Sedensky, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026 That part of Singapore's demographic strategy is unpopular with many Singaporeans. — Brian Mann, NPR, 31 Aug. 2026 Numerous recent polls show Trump has the lowest approval rating of either of his terms in office as the unpopular Iran war continues and gas prices remain high. — Jeff Mason, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2026 Rising prices for the American consumer, an unpopular war in Iran, all of this is true, right? — NBC news, 30 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unpopular

Word History

First Known Use

1614, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unpopular was in 1614

Rhymes for unpopular

See All Rhymes for unpopular

Browse Nearby Words

unpope
unpopular
unpopulated
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

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Kids Definition

unpopular

adjective
un·​pop·​u·​lar ˌən-ˈpäp-yə-lər How to pronounce unpopular (audio)
ˈən-
: not popular : disliked by many people
unpopularity
ˌən-ˌpäp-yə-ˈlar-ət-ē How to pronounce unpopular (audio)
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on unpopular

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for unpopular

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