unhelpful

adjective

un·​help·​ful ˌən-ˈhelp-fəl How to pronounce unhelpful (audio)
 Southern often  -ˈhep-,
 also  -ˈheəp-
: offering no assistance : not helpful
a rude, unhelpful person
a confusing and unhelpful textbook
unhelpfully adverb
unhelpfulness noun

Examples of unhelpful in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Distancing may also protect your emotional well-being in relationships that feel unsalvageable or even harmful to be in, but can be unhelpful in conflicts that could deeply benefit from even a single, albeit uncomfortable, conversation. Mark Travers, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024 That's where, for me, all my insecurities come from, is my head telling me messages about myself, which may not be true or just unhelpful. Vanessa Etienne, People.com, 29 Nov. 2024 Still, these narratives are unhelpful at best and potentially dangerous at worst. Ella Cerón, Allure, 6 Dec. 2024 In many cases, the federal tax law’s existing provisions intended to help victims of disasters rebuild without facing taxes have been unhelpful or incomplete. Robert W. Wood, Forbes, 5 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for unhelpful 

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1616, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unhelpful was circa 1616

Dictionary Entries Near unhelpful

Cite this Entry

“Unhelpful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unhelpful. Accessed 25 Dec. 2024.

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