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
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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
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3
as in unpleasant
not giving pleasure to the mind or senses
hated the whole unsavory business of firing people
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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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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of unsavory
Beyond reputational harm, dabbling with unsavory donors can mean losing out on future funding.
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Mary Holland, Robb Report, 1 Dec. 2024
The gym was a front for unsavory criminal activity and strong-arming, much of it perpetrated by the gym members who lifted heavy weights and competed in local bodybuilding competitions.
—Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 25 Nov. 2024
The two Ohio natives grew up surrounded by parlay cards and unsavory characters, so the legalization of sports betting was nothing new to them.
—Jon Greenberg, The Athletic, 29 Aug. 2024
Overly precocious George jumps from the train to the countryside and, in true Dickensian fashion, encounters some helpful people as well as some unsavory types on his treacherous trek back home.
—Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for unsavory 
Mary Holland, Robb Report, 1 Dec. 2024
The gym was a front for unsavory criminal activity and strong-arming, much of it perpetrated by the gym members who lifted heavy weights and competed in local bodybuilding competitions.
—Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 25 Nov. 2024
The two Ohio natives grew up surrounded by parlay cards and unsavory characters, so the legalization of sports betting was nothing new to them.
—Jon Greenberg, The Athletic, 29 Aug. 2024
Overly precocious George jumps from the train to the countryside and, in true Dickensian fashion, encounters some helpful people as well as some unsavory types on his treacherous trek back home.
—Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for unsavory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unsavory
Adjective
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Those choices seem even more baffling and distasteful after watching this documentary, which shows the real Lyle breaking down with shame on the witness stand over his abuse of Erik.Jen Chaney, Vulture, 7 Oct. 2024
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The performance of the big meal is done, the mood has relaxed, the more distasteful guests are long gone.Helen Rosner, The New Yorker, 28 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Regulated sportsbooks find gambling on minors immoral in some respects, but you guys don’t.Jay Ginsbach, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
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In a 2022 Pew Research Center study, growing numbers of Americans said members of the other party are dishonest, immoral and closed-minded.Rachel Carlson, NPR, 20 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Almost everyone is bitter, unpleasant, scheming, self-centered, manipulative or awful (or just plain crazy).Erik Kain, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024
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The news, predictably, was unpleasant: the Olympic roster was about to leak, and Clark wasn’t on it.Sean Gregory, TIME, 10 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The answer is quite simple but hardly not satisfying: His players are bland.Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 11 Dec. 2024
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My only real complaint is that, apart from the weapons, the mecha looked like they were designed by a committee and were a bit bland.Ollie Barder, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Afterall, there are few things as unappetizing as a spoonful of stale cereal.Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 8 Dec. 2024
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The holiday rush is in full swing across the US as last-minute travelers try to reach their destinations in unappetizing weather conditions.Alexandra Banner, CNN, 27 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Some are called because of incorrect ingredient information on packet labels or unlawful importation, for example.Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2024
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Currently incarcerated in Utah, YoungBoy faces six charges of possession of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person, as well as charges related to a pattern of unlawful activity stemming from a May 2023 arrest.Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 11 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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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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Conventional toy cars used thin, rigid steel axles and rubber tires.George Petras, USA TODAY, 14 Dec. 2024
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There’s never been a better long-form tool for exploring complex ideas than these rectangular objects made of thin wood slices (or imaginary bleeps and bloops on a Kindle).Vulture Editors, Vulture, 13 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near unsavory
Cite this Entry
“Unsavory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unsavory. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
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