unpleasant
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of unpleasant
Explanation
Something unpleasant is disagreeable, painful, or annoying in some way. No one likes unpleasant experiences. Since pleasant things are enjoyable in some way, unpleasant things are hard to enjoy. Being in pain is unpleasant. So is being stuck in traffic. It's unpleasant when someone is rude. If your feelings or senses don't like something, it's likely unpleasant. The word pleasant comes from the French plaisir, "to please." If something doesn't please you, it's unpleasant.
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.
“Understanding these taxes can prevent unpleasant surprises when it’s time to pay those property-tax assessments,” Ringbauer said.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 15, 2026
Back in September 2019, the Saudis suffered an unpleasant shock.
From BBC ● Jul. 29, 2026
Lower occupancy at transitional care facilities in Singapore weighed on the company’s 1H healthcare services segment’s revenue, which fell around 16% from a year earlier and came as an unpleasant surprise to the analyst.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026
Within a few short weeks, an ongoing outbreak of Cyclospora, a foodborne parasite that can contaminate raw fruits and vegetables — and lead to several unpleasant gastrointestinal symptoms — has fueled a nationwide panic.
From Salon ● Jul. 25, 2026
She knew it was optoomuchstic to think they might get through the evening without running into the Ashtons, or to imagine that such an encounter would be anything less than extremely unpleasant.
From "The Hidden Gallery" by Maryrose Wood
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.
