unsavory

[ uhn-sey-vuh-ree ]

/ ʌnˈseɪ və ri /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR unsavory ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

not savory; tasteless or insipid: an unsavory meal.

unpleasant in taste or smell; distasteful.

unappealing or disagreeable, as a pursuit: Poor teachers can make education unsavory.

socially or morally objectionable or offensive: an unsavory past; an unsavory person.

Nearby words

unsaturated, unsaturated compound, unsaturated fat, unsaturated fats, unsaturated fatty acid, unsavory, unsavoury, unsavvy, unsay, unsayable, unscathed

Also especially British, un·sa·vour·y.

Origin of unsavory

Middle English word dating back to 1175–1225; see origin at un-¹, savory¹

SYNONYMS FOR unsavory

1 flat, unappetizing.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR unsavory ON THESAURUS.COM

Related formsun·sa·vor·i·ly, adverbun·sa·vor·i·ness, noun

Examples from the Web for unsavory

It seems to me to be too unsavory a step but time will tell.
Measles Vaccine Mix-Up Kills Dozens of Syrian Children|Kent Sepkowitz|September 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Organicness, too, can offer a patina of healthfulness to unsavory substances.
Your Health Food’s Hidden Sugar Bomb|Michael Schulson|July 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Everyone knows that Game of Thrones is full of unsavory characters that behave in unsavory ways.
Game of Thrones’ ‘The Lion and the Rose’: Joffrey’s Demented, Shocking Royal Wedding|Andrew Romano|April 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
So as unsavory as it may feel, working with the moderate-aligned military is our only hope, writes Leslie H. Gelb.
It’s Time to Hold Our Nose and Back Egypt’s Military|Leslie H. Gelb|August 17, 2013|DAILY BEAST

This has given Cuccinelli plenty of ammunition to attack him as an unsavory wheeler-dealer.
Five Takeaways From Virginia Gubernatorial Debate|Ben Jacobs|July 20, 2013|DAILY BEAST
They did unsavory cooking over the open fire till their small supply of wood gave out.
Home Fires in France|Dorothy Canfield
I should not care to entrust my daughter or sister to the keeping of a man with my unsavory reputation.
Nat Goodwin's Book|Nat C. Goodwin
The street is and always has been narrow, and, from its proximity to the fish-market, is and always has been unsavory.
London|Walter Besant
Neither can be depended upon and generally both have unsavory reputations.
Danger! A True History of a Great City's Wiles and Temptations|William Howe
Poetry is truly an unsavory implement when it so demeans a smart officer to defer to a civilian.
The Green Book|Mr Jkai

Word Origin and History for unsavory

unsavory

adj.

early 13c., "tasteless, insipid," from un- (1) "not" + savory (adj.). Meaning "unpleasant or disagreeable to the taste" is attested from late 14c.; of persons, from c.1400.

unsavory

adjective

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Origin of unsavory

Examples from the Web for unsavory

Word Origin and History for unsavory

unsavory