1
as in distasteful
disagreeable or disgusting to the sense of taste
an unsavory blend of spices that simply overwhelmed the fish's delicate flavor
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in immoral
not conforming to a high moral standard; morally unacceptable
unsavory doings that ruined the couple's good name in the community
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in unpleasant
not giving pleasure to the mind or senses
hated the whole unsavory business of firing people
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in bland
lacking in taste or flavor
the unsavory food dished up at the rest area's restaurant should be consumed only by the truly desperate
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unsavory
The Dodgers immediately fired Mizuhara; investigations were launched by MLB and the IRS; and five days later, Ohtani issued a statement denying any role in a scandal that echoed unsavory chapters of the sport’s past.
—
David Amsden, Rolling Stone, 29 Aug. 2025
The problem with that perspective is that if a user enters a prompt of some untoward nature, the odds are that society would expect the AI maker to have detected the unsavory matter.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Jillian Michaels has loudly broken her silence on a contentious new docuseries on Netflix, which makes claims about the former The Biggest Loser cohost in a variety of its more unsavory scandals.
—Ryan Coleman Published, EW.com, 20 Aug. 2025
Opportunities, however, also create the unsavory proposition of negative reps that could make the staff’s decision for them.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 13 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unsavory
David Amsden, Rolling Stone, 29 Aug. 2025
The problem with that perspective is that if a user enters a prompt of some untoward nature, the odds are that society would expect the AI maker to have detected the unsavory matter.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Jillian Michaels has loudly broken her silence on a contentious new docuseries on Netflix, which makes claims about the former The Biggest Loser cohost in a variety of its more unsavory scandals.
—Ryan Coleman Published, EW.com, 20 Aug. 2025
Opportunities, however, also create the unsavory proposition of negative reps that could make the staff’s decision for them.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 13 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unsavory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unsavory
Adjective
-
But Republicans were determined to use the revenue produced by a cap to pay for marginal rate cuts that Democrats found distasteful.—
Joseph Thorndike,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
-
The artwork — a graphic close-up shot of a tiny American flag bikini on a woman’s pelvic area — was considered so distasteful by some that chain stores like Walmart and Kmart banned it at the time.—
David Browne,
Rolling Stone,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Unlike previous seasons, Dorothy never makes immoral choices.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
-
This is disgraceful and immoral.—
Armando Garcia,
ABC News,
18 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Adrien Broner has had yet another unpleasant moment surface online.—
Armon Sadler,
VIBE.com,
24 Sep. 2025
-
My skin usually amps up oud notes in the most unpleasant way, but this formulation just works.—
Kimberly Wilson,
Essence,
19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Choose simple, bland foods that are easy to digest, such as bananas and toast.—
Chelsea Rae Bourgeois,
Health,
20 Sep. 2025
-
While the buzz about Borderlands 4 has been mostly positive (aside from serious PC performance issues reported early on), the game’s bland opening feels out of keeping with the franchise, offering a reminder that Borderlands has always been about more than just slick gameplay.—
G Kirilloff,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Among the all-natural brands, the color might seem anathema, even unappetizing.—
Shayla Love,
New Yorker,
8 Aug. 2025
-
Analysts have warned that political polarization and unappetizing electoral options for voters may well yield a fractured vote.—
Vasuki Shastry,
Forbes.com,
25 July 2025
Adjective
-
African telecom companies are often at the mercy of government agencies that order the shutdowns, but pressure from the international community could increase accountability and compel the companies to deny unlawful or arbitrary shutdown orders, the researchers argued.—
Alexander Onukwue,
semafor.com,
29 Sep. 2025
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Oregon is calling for the court to declare Hegseth's order unlawful and to enjoin the federalization of troops, as well as permanently enjoin the defense secretary and the Pentagon from calling upon Oregon National Guard members for federal service.—
Peter Aitken,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Smears on non-sensor areas of the tiara are like bug debris on your hood, aesthetically unpleasing but not harmful.—
Eric Tegler,
Popular Mechanics,
1 Oct. 2019
-
His side's inability to finish off the game against Burnley on the other hand was very unpleasing.—
SI.com,
SI.com,
1 Feb. 2018
Adjective
-
Such devices must be thin and resilient, capable of working where rigid materials fail.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
26 Sep. 2025
-
Long wigs and extensions almost always run on the thinner side by default—an issue hair companies still haven’t really solved.—
Noel Cymone Walker,
StyleCaster,
25 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unsavory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unsavory. Accessed 1 Oct. 2025.
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