unpleasant

adjective

un·​pleas·​ant ˌən-ˈple-zᵊnt 

: not pleasant : not amiable or agreeable : displeasing

unpleasant odors

unpleasantly adverb

Synonyms

• bad
• bitter
• disagreeable
• displeasing
• distasteful
• harsh
• icky
• nasty
• rotten
• sour
• uncongenial
• unlovely
• unpalatable
• unpleasing
• unsavory
• unwelcome
• wicked
• yucky
• yukky

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

Almost everyone is bitter, unpleasant, scheming, self-centered, manipulative or awful (or just plain crazy). —Erik Kain, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024

The news, predictably, was unpleasant: the Olympic roster was about to leak, and Clark wasn’t on it. —Sean Gregory, TIME, 10 Dec. 2024

The designer recently opened up about how filming with Josh for her upcoming series The Flip Off — which also stars her ex-husband Tarek El Moussa and his wife Heather Rae El Moussa — was an unpleasant experience for her while speaking to ET in November. —Natalia Senanayake, People.com, 3 Dec. 2024

Is Here By Sophie Saint Thomas Another less serious yet rather unpleasant downside of beef tallow? —Victoria Moorhouse, Allure, 3 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

unpleasant

adjective

un·​pleas·​ant ˌən-ˈplez-ᵊnt 

ˈən-

: not pleasant : not friendly or agreeable : displeasing

unpleasantly adverb

unpleasantness noun