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
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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
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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
Alcohol was pervasive, and so was the stigma that men, in particular, needed to tough it out even if that drinking had unsavory consequences.
—
Cathy Applefeld Olson, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025
Oak Lawn’s police department also was formed after an unsavory incident, after several drunken Chicago police officers crashed a community dance in 1913 resulting in a melee involving around 75 residents.
—Janice Neumann, Chicago Tribune, 9 July 2025
The fact that the filmmakers persuade you to root for Monroe’s character, who’s operating in such an unsavory universe, makes this an achievement worth respecting.
—Stephen Farber, HollywoodReporter, 16 June 2025
The beautiful game has all too often been marred by unsavory incidents of bigotry.
—Hannah Ryan, CNN Money, 27 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for unsavory
Cathy Applefeld Olson, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025
Oak Lawn’s police department also was formed after an unsavory incident, after several drunken Chicago police officers crashed a community dance in 1913 resulting in a melee involving around 75 residents.
—Janice Neumann, Chicago Tribune, 9 July 2025
The fact that the filmmakers persuade you to root for Monroe’s character, who’s operating in such an unsavory universe, makes this an achievement worth respecting.
—Stephen Farber, HollywoodReporter, 16 June 2025
The beautiful game has all too often been marred by unsavory incidents of bigotry.
—Hannah Ryan, CNN Money, 27 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for unsavory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unsavory
Adjective
-
The open pursuit of money would have been distasteful to her.—
Jane Ciabattari
August 12,
Literary Hub,
12 Aug. 2025
-
After that kind of a loss, asking if the camp should have been better prepared might feel distasteful.—
Olga Khazan,
The Atlantic,
14 July 2025
Adjective
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Rudy flames out on his first day, though, and ends up working for a shady lawyer named Bruiser (Lana Parrilla) and her gleefully immoral paralegal Deck (P.J. Byrne).—
Dave Nemetz,
TVLine,
12 Aug. 2025
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And that may be a good thing for humanity: For humans to thrive in this new era, immoral corporate executives and world leaders alike need to be replaced by AI, Gawdat advised.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
6 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Once again, America confronts the unpleasant truth that the Constitution does not expressly guarantee a right to vote — and neither will the Supreme Court.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
12 Aug. 2025
-
The options are unpleasant tenements on one side and unaffordable houses on the other.—
Christopher Bonanos,
Curbed,
11 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Without their voice in sales, clients can feel disconnected from the brand’s deeper purpose, messaging risks becoming bland or robotic and trust can erode if communication lacks emotion or nuance.—
Doaa K. Darwish,
Forbes.com,
15 Aug. 2025
-
For anyone who feels healthful food is bland or boring, Santavicca encourages them to come and try their food.—
Pamela Brown,
Hartford Courant,
12 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
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
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How to Get More Walnuts Into Your Diet If eating a handful of raw walnuts is unappetizing, there are countless ways to add walnuts to your diet—from topping salads and oatmeal, blending them in a smoothie, or sprinkling a bit of garlic and roasting them for a healthy snack, said Zumpano.—
Maggie O'Neill,
Verywell Health,
7 May 2025
Adjective
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Drake Solomon accuses his former employer of disability discrimination and an unlawful severance offer.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
15 Aug. 2025
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Instead, advocates say those who are not in shelter are being pushed farther and farther away from services in an attempt to escape unlawful camping citations.—
Keely Doll,
The Courier-Journal,
15 Aug. 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
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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
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The Ravens are thin there, with rookie third-round tackle Emery Jones Jr. still yet to make his summer debut because of a shoulder injury and potentially starting the regular season on the non-football injury list.—
Jeff Zrebiec,
New York Times,
17 Aug. 2025
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Details on the election process are thin, but many citizens could be casting their votes in an active conflict zone or under the eyes of armed soldiers – a terrifying prospect that some say could lead to more violence.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
17 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unsavory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unsavory. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025.
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