unappreciated

British  

/ ˌʌnəˈpriːʃɪˌeɪtɪd, -sɪ- /

adjective

1. not given or shown thanks or gratitude

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Other Word Forms

• unappreciative
  adjective

Explanation

Knowing that "un-" means "not," you can probably figure out that someone who is unappreciated is someone whose value is not recognized or rewarded. We all feel unappreciated at times, but feeling that way might help us appreciate others. The adjective unappreciated took shape in the mid-19th century. It evolved from the Latin appretiāre, "to set a value on something." The word unappreciated can refer to anything that does not receive full credit, either positive or negative. For example, we might say that the possibilities of disaster due to global warming are still unappreciated by most people.

Example Sentences

The show was "not cool" in the 1980s and 1990s and was dismissed as unappreciated kitsch in the West when eastern European countries joined, Jordan said.

From Barron's • May 16, 2026

Investors also woke up to a simpler reality: Many large pharmaceutical companies are finally delivering on growth promises that had gone unappreciated.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 6, 2026

Anyone who’s ever felt like an oddball or unappreciated genius will identify with the misfit Mitchells and their pet Monchi, who appears to be more goblin than dog.

From Salon • Dec. 24, 2025

The concern raised by Chris, a producer working to highlight accessibility barriers in the industry, is one that some in the sector feel has gone unappreciated for too long.

From BBC • Jul. 16, 2025

This was quite out of character for a well-mannered Incorrigible, but not entirely out of character for an artist whose work has been so rudely unappreciated.

From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood