undesirable

[uhn-di-zahyuh r-uh-buh l]

See more synonyms for undesirable on Thesaurus.com

adjective

not desirable or attractive; objectionable: undesirable qualities.

noun

a person or thing considered undesirable: a collection of malcontents and undesirables.

Origin of undesirable

First recorded in 1660–70; un-¹ + desirable

Related formsun·de·sir·a·bil·i·ty, un·de·sir·a·ble·ness, nounun·de·sir·a·bly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for undesirable

Contemporary Examples

Self-realized masters can get stern and even appear angry if a disciple openly manifests some undesirable character trait.
When Gary Wright Met George Harrison: Dream Weaver, John and Yoko, and More
Gary Wright
September 29, 2014
Moreover, corporal punishment has the undesirable quality that the more you use it, the less effective it becomes.
Why Adrian Peterson Changed My Mind on Spanking
Brandy Zadrozny
September 17, 2014
However, eating certain types of carbs at certain times and in certain amounts can lead to some undesirable consequences.
Carbs 101: The Truth About Carbohydrates
DailyBurn
January 17, 2014
Queen Beatrix knocked the British Royals off the undesirable top spot for the first time in five years.
Queen Beatrix: 'No Reason' to Cut Back
Tom Sykes
July 23, 2012
Racism, like any form of bigotry, is a crude simplification, reducing an entire race into a slim range of undesirable qualities.
American Dreams: 1912, ‘The Autobiography of an Ex-Coloured Man’
Nathaniel Rich
February 20, 2012

Historical Examples

A damp cellar has always been considered to be undesirable, but just why nobody knows.
Rural Hygiene
Henry N. Ogden
The roof of the spring-chamber may be of plank, but this is temporary and undesirable.
Rural Hygiene
Henry N. Ogden
The search for homes carried them into the most undesirable sections.
Negro Migration during the War
Emmett J. Scott
How to protect your emotional nature from undesirable vibrations.
The Human Aura
Swami Panchadasi
I have defied her from the first and now I am rated as an undesirable boarder.
Molly Brown's Orchard Home
Nell Speed

British Dictionary definitions for undesirable

undesirable

adjective

not desirable or pleasant; objectionable

noun

a person or thing that is considered undesirable

Derived Formsundesirability or undesirableness, nounundesirably, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for undesirable

adj.

1660s, "not to be desired, objectionable," from un- (1) "not" + desirable. The noun meaning "undesirable person or thing" is first attested 1883. Undesired "not asked or invited" is recorded from late 15c.

undesirable

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}undesirable

Examples from the Web for undesirable

Contemporary Examples

Self-realized masters can get stern and even appear angry if a disciple openly manifests some undesirable character trait.

Moreover, corporal punishment has the undesirable quality that the more you use it, the less effective it becomes.

However, eating certain types of carbs at certain times and in certain amounts can lead to some undesirable consequences.

Queen Beatrix knocked the British Royals off the undesirable top spot for the first time in five years.

Racism, like any form of bigotry, is a crude simplification, reducing an entire race into a slim range of undesirable qualities.

Historical Examples

A damp cellar has always been considered to be undesirable, but just why nobody knows.

The roof of the spring-chamber may be of plank, but this is temporary and undesirable.

The search for homes carried them into the most undesirable sections.

How to protect your emotional nature from undesirable vibrations.

I have defied her from the first and now I am rated as an undesirable boarder.

undesirable

Word Origin and History for undesirable

adj.

Origin of undesirable