unattractive
Britishadjective
-
not appealing to the senses or mind through beauty, form, character, etc
-
not arousing interest
an unattractive proposition
Explanation
Unattractive means "unappealing" or "ugly." The cake you baked for you best friend's birthday may be lopsided and unattractive, but she won't care if it tastes delicious. It's not very nice to describe people as unattractive — you're basically saying they're not pretty or handsome. But inanimate objects can also be unattractive if they're not pleasant to look at, like the unattractive cactus on your coffee table. And other things are unattractive because they offer no benefits or advantages: "I wanted that job until he offered me an unattractive salary."
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.
If the dollar is unattractive as a portfolio hedge, the more incentive there is to reduce dollar exposure.
From MarketWatch • Feb. 12, 2026
If Olympia makes it unattractive to build companies where that talent graduated, those founders will take their education—and the jobs they create—elsewhere.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 9, 2026
And when that accident happened, she felt so unattractive to him.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 11, 2025
Pundits criticised the 62-year-old former midfielder for his unattractive style of play, while he bemoaned having no players coming even close to the level of former Czech greats such as Pavel Nedved or Tomas Rosicky.
From Barron's • Oct. 15, 2025
You’re a very unattractive person when you’re sarcastic.”
From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy
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.
