unsympathetic
Britishadjective
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not characterized by, feeling, or showing sympathy
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not showing agreement (with) or favour (towards)
Explanation
When someone doesn't seem to care about the misfortunes of others, they're unsympathetic. If you yawn while your friend is crying about her lost cat, you'll come across as terribly unsympathetic. There are a few ways to use unsympathetic. If you lack sympathy (a feeling of sadness on behalf of someone else), you're unsympathetic: "I'm unsympathetic about her missing cashmere scarf, since I happen to know she has three more at home." It can also mean "unappealing" or "unlikeable." Darth Vader, up to a point, is a decidedly unsympathetic movie character. Finally, it can mean "disapproving," as in your unsympathetic opinion of an elected official whose policies you disagree with.
Vocabulary lists containing unsympathetic
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Newsom is so unsympathetic in his own book that you could leave with a renewed sense of pity for Kimberly Guilfoyle, his wife from 2001 to 2006 and Donald Trump Jr.’s ex-fiancée.
From Slate • Feb. 25, 2026
Unionists, who wished to preserve Northern Ireland’s place in the U.K., were largely unsympathetic.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 13, 2026
Their protestations to the contrary fall on unsympathetic ears.
From BBC • Dec. 6, 2025
Bong enjoys reminding us that unsympathetic characters often make the most compelling leads.
From Salon • Mar. 25, 2025
He rolled his eyes, his expression vastly unsympathetic.
From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
