unadoptable
adjective
un·adopt·able
ˌən-ə-ˈdäp-tə-bəl 
: not capable of being adopted especially because of having some undesirable trait : not adoptable
The older animals were considered unadoptable.
Examples of unadoptable in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
As a result, she was deemed unadoptable and placed on the euthanasia list.
—
Ronnie Li, USA TODAY, 5 July 2024
In her fourth-ever episode, the musical-comedian plays an Annie-esque orphan who turns out to be quite rightly unadoptable.
—Joe Berkowitz, Vulture, 23 May 2024
The nonprofit is a refuge of last resort for unwanted, unadoptable and special needs animals, which include pythons, monitor lizards, skinks, iguanas, geckos, chameleons, turtles, tortoises and tarantulas.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Sep. 2021
In 2017, Jessica had been working on their case, when they were deemed unadoptable by the judge.
—Kelly Corbett, House Beautiful, 15 Feb. 2020
The overly anxious boxer puppy was an unadoptable mess of a dog.
—Amy McRary, USA TODAY, 7 Mar. 2018
Cristina's creatures run the gamut and include the unadoptable, some elderly pets, and those with such varied medical issues as bladder stones and heartworm-positive diagnoses.
—Christian Scaffidi, NOLA.com, 9 May 2018
In 1971, the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act gave the animals federal protections while allowing the interior secretary to sell or euthanize older and unadoptable animals.
—The Washington Post, NOLA.com, 6 May 2018
They are often deemed unadoptable because of their age.
—Kelli Bender, PEOPLE.com, 2 Feb. 2018
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.
Ronnie Li, USA TODAY, 5 July 2024
In her fourth-ever episode, the musical-comedian plays an Annie-esque orphan who turns out to be quite rightly unadoptable.
—Joe Berkowitz, Vulture, 23 May 2024
The nonprofit is a refuge of last resort for unwanted, unadoptable and special needs animals, which include pythons, monitor lizards, skinks, iguanas, geckos, chameleons, turtles, tortoises and tarantulas.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Sep. 2021
In 2017, Jessica had been working on their case, when they were deemed unadoptable by the judge.
—Kelly Corbett, House Beautiful, 15 Feb. 2020
The overly anxious boxer puppy was an unadoptable mess of a dog.
—Amy McRary, USA TODAY, 7 Mar. 2018
Cristina's creatures run the gamut and include the unadoptable, some elderly pets, and those with such varied medical issues as bladder stones and heartworm-positive diagnoses.
—Christian Scaffidi, NOLA.com, 9 May 2018
In 1971, the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act gave the animals federal protections while allowing the interior secretary to sell or euthanize older and unadoptable animals.
—The Washington Post, NOLA.com, 6 May 2018
They are often deemed unadoptable because of their age.
—Kelli Bender, PEOPLE.com, 2 Feb. 2018
Dictionary Entries Near unadoptable
Cite this Entry
“Unadoptable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unadoptable. Accessed 17 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share