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unenviable

British  
/ ʌnˈɛnvɪəbəl /

adjective

  1. not to be envied

    the unenviable task

"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

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.

Officials now have the unenviable task of euthanising the creepy-crawlies, an insect so hardy it spawned an urban legend they could survive a nuclear blast.

From Barron's • Jun. 5, 2026

Talks between the two parties are understood to be at an advanced stage and the 46-year-old will be handed the unenviable task of filling the boots of one of the standout coaches of his generation.

From BBC • May 19, 2026

Despite their clear affection for these women, the Dardenne brothers never sugarcoat their characters’ unenviable circumstance or latch onto phony bromides to alleviate our anxiety.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 16, 2026

The result is that some of the most powerful politicians in America live under constant pressure to please social media—an unenviable confinement that we might call Twitter prison.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 5, 2026

He had the completely unenviable job of being Byerley’s campaign manager in a campaign that wasn’t a campaign, for a person that refused to reveal his strategy, and refused to accept his manager’s.

From "I, Robot" by Isaac Asimov

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