UNAPPETIZING Synonyms: 46 Similar and Opposite Words

unappetizing

adjective

ˌən-ˈa-pə-ˌtī-ziŋ

Definition of unappetizing

as in unpalatable

disagreeable or disgusting to the sense of taste the array of unappetizing foods that we encountered at that cheap roadside restaurant

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of unappetizing Both chains suffered from serving food that appeared both inauthentic and unappetizing, unable to compete with local offerings. — Mia Osmonbekov, Fortune, 15 July 2026 Try adding lemon, cucumber, or mint to your water to encourage hydration if plain water in the morning feels boring or unappetizing. — Cristina Mutchler, Verywell Health, 19 June 2026 All those unappetizing items go in your brown yard waste cart, not the black trash cart or the blue recycle cart. — Terri Daxon, Oc Register, 28 May 2026 Even in the latter part of his career, at the weekly newspaper New York Observer, his writings lost none of their sting, and indeed often seemed like an unappetizing leftover from an era when sour personal swipes were more tolerated. — Greg Evans, Deadline, 12 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for unappetizing

Recent Examples of Synonyms for unappetizing

Adjective

This concentration of wealth and innovation force unpalatable decisions onto middle powers.

— Wal van Lierop, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026
That’s a crucial difference many in Hollywood say will keep California less competitive than other locations, though such a provision is likely unpalatable in the broader state Legislature.

— Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of unpalatable

Adjective

For some, evoking death and sacrifice was perplexing and distasteful; a step too far.

— Harry Booth, Time, 17 July 2026
South Florida beaches have been inundated by waves of sargassum in recent weeks — while visually distasteful to some, the seaweed is not usually harmful to humans, and occupies a critical niche in marine ecosystems.

— Sarah Perkel, USA Today, 16 June 2026

Definition of distasteful

Adjective

Anne Hathaway is a leftist, woke, horrible choice for DAYS OF THUNDER NASCAR audience who are MAGA.

— James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 31 Aug. 2026
These two rubber bands in our throat are affected by everything from hormones to psychology to a bad day to a horrible night’s sleep to the sniffles or whatever.

— Marissa R. Moss, Rolling Stone, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of horrible

Adjective

Needless to say, things do not go well when Bella begins traveling the world and encountering a wide variety of unsavory people.

— K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 25 Aug. 2026
Meanwhile in England, Queen Victoria fretted about receiving a gemstone obtained in such an unsavory way, and worried about the condition of Duleep.

— Hadley Hall Meares, Vanity Fair, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of unsavory

Adjective

Poor Anton has been left out of the drama all day, an effort by Billie and Samir to prevent an already bad futzing from escalating to something severe, and that’s never where Anton likes to be.

— Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
Although rarely seen, its reemergence earlier this summer is a signal of how bad the region’s ongoing drought has gotten, as well as a warning for the difficult months ahead.

— Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of bad

Adjective

Cyber stocks late last year and into 2026 were being lumped into the awful enterprise software trade.

— Paulina Likos, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026
In 2024, Burke’s squad dragged itself off the mat after an awful (yet at the time, typical) start to the season to go unbeaten in 12 of 13 matches down the stretch and narrowly miss the playoffs.

— Kels Dayton, Hartford Courant, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of awful

Adjective

Take these precautions during water activities Swimmers, particularly those in southern states and warm coastal waters, should expect a minimal risk of contracting a pathogen in warm freshwater lakes, rivers, brackish waters and hot springs.

— Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026
Although the brackish estuary’s health is improving somewhat — particularly in the Mosquito Lagoon — the entire system remains impaired by pollution, including from septic tanks and wastewater spills.

— Molly Duerig, Miami Herald, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of brackish

Adjective

The desperate-sounding call that an eagle named Shadow let out early one morning, after his mate, Jackie, had gone missing, was not a bland biological fact.

— Alex Ross, New Yorker, 24 Aug. 2026
Although when seen up close or for prolonged periods, the digital dinos are remarkably bland and unimpressive — I was reminded of the notoriously bad CGI in the woeful Ray Bradbury movie A Sound of Thunder (2005).

— Peter Tonguette, The Washington Examiner, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of bland

Browse Nearby Words

unappeased

unappetizing

unappreciated

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“Unappetizing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unappetizing. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of unappetizing

adjective

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