unadoptable

adjective

un·​adopt·​able ˌən-ə-ˈdäp-tə-bəl How to pronounce unadoptable (audio)
: 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
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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

Word History

First Known Use

1843, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unadoptable was in 1843

Dictionary Entries Near unadoptable

Cite this Entry

“Unadoptable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unadoptable. Accessed 17 Nov. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!