unpleasant

adjective

un·​pleas·​ant ˌən-ˈple-zᵊnt 

: not pleasant : not amiable or agreeable : displeasing

unpleasant odors

unpleasantly adverb

Synonyms

• unpleasing
• harsh
• bad
• nasty
• ugly
• bitter
• sour
• horrible
• disgusting
• awful
• disagreeable
• sickening
• unwelcome
• rotten

Examples of unpleasant in a Sentence

I stopped taking the drug because of its unpleasant side effects.

There was an unpleasant smell coming from the basement.

The weather is so unpleasant here.

I like the shop, but the staff are so unpleasant.

Recent Examples on the Web

But many of the Blues’ outings have been unpleasant because of high temperatures and storms, and six games across the tournament have been paused for poor weather conditions, angering manager Enzo Maresca. —Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 8 July 2025

My other wildlife standoff involved a much cuter animal, but potentially far more unpleasant. —Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 July 2025

The best carafes are made from insulating materials that retain heat without creating any unpleasant aromas or tastes. —Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 1 July 2025

The movements of her mouth did not quite match her synthetic speech, while her arms and hands stayed fixed in place in an unpleasant contrast with the thumbnail previews of companions. —Rob Pegoraro, PC Magazine, 1 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for unpleasant

• omnipresent
• peasant
• pheasant
• pleasant
• present

Kids Definition

unpleasant

adjective

un·​pleas·​ant ˌən-ˈplez-ᵊnt 

ˈən-

: not pleasant : not friendly or agreeable : displeasing

unpleasantly adverb

unpleasantness noun