unappealing
Britishadjective
Explanation
Something that's unappealing isn't inviting or interesting to you, like an unappealing bowl of cold brussels sprouts. Yuck. If you've got to decide between cleaning the bathroom and taking out the trash, you could call those two unappealing choices. And if your family plans to vacation at a working farm instead of Disney World, that may also sound unappealing. Anything unappealing doesn't please you or catch your interest. This word is formed by adding the prefix un- ("not") to appealing, which can be traced back to a Latin root meaning "to summon."
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.
Back in east London, the worker experience is "unappealing", admits Chelsea Sharp.
From BBC • May 4, 2026
Many promising schools never open—not because of weak demand or unappealing curricula, but because zoning codes and occupancy classifications were written for campuses with hundreds of students.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026
It’s why the conspiracies claiming we never went there are so unappealing, not to mention completely lacking in evidence.
From Salon • Apr. 7, 2026
As a result little stands between you and the actors, appealing or unappealing according to their characters.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 19, 2026
Returning to her ordinary life seemed so unappealing.
From "Son" by Lois Lowry
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.
