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
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.
This, together with his history of abuse, made Boo unadoptable as an animal companion, his current owner, Amy Hurst, told Newsweek. Mohammed Soliman, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Apr. 2025 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 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

Word History

First Known Use

1843, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unadoptable was in 1843

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Cite this Entry

“Unadoptable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unadoptable. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

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