unsavory

[ uhn-sey-vuh-ree ]

/ ʌnˈseɪ və ri /

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

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

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

un·sa·vor·i·ly, adverbun·sa·vor·i·ness, noun

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