unsympathetic

adjective

un·​sym·​pa·​thet·​ic ˌən-ˌsim-pə-ˈthe-tik How to pronounce unsympathetic (audio)
: not given to, marked by, or arising from sympathy : not sympathetic
an unsympathetic bystander
an unsympathetic review
unsympathetically adverb
commenting unsympathetically

Examples of unsympathetic in a Sentence

gave them an unsympathetic look and pointed out that they'd brought the problem on themselves an aloof and unsympathetic man who does not engage in small talk a bohemian artist who found the unsympathetic environment of the small town too much to bear an unsympathetic reaction to her proposal to ban trans fats from the company cafeteria
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.
Katt’s film roles, predominantly as unsympathetic villains, included A Time to Kill (1996), SubUrbia (1996), The Limey (1999), Boiler Room (2000), The Way of the Gun (2000), Insomnia (2002), School of Rock (2003), Sin City (2005) and Snow Angels (2008). Marc Berman, Forbes.com, 12 Apr. 2025 Hippler appeared unsympathetic to the defense's opposition to including Kohberger's Amazon records, which show the purchase of a Ka-Bar knife and sheath set before the murders as well as searching the app for the same items after the murders. Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 10 Apr. 2025 For now, Abigail is a pariah in her town and her school, facing discrimination both inane (locker vandalism, unsympathetic teachers) and terrifying (physical threats, a targeted bathroom ban). Emma Sarappo, The Atlantic, 24 Mar. 2025 To ensure a thorough test, the researchers created 16 different versions of the case, covering all possible combinations of sympathetic or unsympathetic defendants, and precedent-following or precedent-breaking lower court decisions. Lars Daniel, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for unsympathetic

Word History

First Known Use

1823, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unsympathetic was in 1823

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Unsympathetic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unsympathetic. Accessed 26 Apr. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on unsympathetic

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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