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.
A strong, unpleasant smell hung in the air, as the fire burned at the refinery through the morning.
From Barron's • Jun. 18, 2026
The unpleasant market metaphor refers to the idea that even a lifeless feline when dropped from a height may initially ricochet off the ground.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 9, 2026
She eventually discovered his philandering and made his life unpleasant as a consequence.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 5, 2026
"It's a biohazard and it's hugely unpleasant for the community that uses this river."
From BBC • Jun. 4, 2026
She had a feeling the sorceress was about to turn him into something unpleasant if he didn’t shut up.
From "The House of Hades" by Rick Riordan
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.
