unwanted

[uhn-won-tid, ‐wawn‐]

See more synonyms for unwanted on Thesaurus.com

adjective

not desired or needed; not wanted: My absence generated some unwanted attention.

Origin of unwanted

First recorded in 1695–1700; un-¹ + want + -ed²

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

Examples from the Web for unwanted

Contemporary Examples

Girls raised in households with more equitable fathers show lower rates of unwanted sex.
How Good Dads Can Change the World
Gary Barker, PhD, Michael Kaufman
January 6, 2015
Long and his constituents got their way: The buses turned around and the unwanted immigrants aboard them were taken elsewhere.
Blue State Anti-Immigrant Hate: Rallies Spread to the East Coast
Caitlin Dickson
July 29, 2014
And having an unwanted man charge under your dress is just plain scary, whether or not you're on the red carpet.
An Analysis of Vitalii Sediuk’s Pranks (He’s the Guy Who Touched Brad Pitt)
Amy Zimmerman
May 29, 2014
People in that capacity provide wisdom, but also unwanted judgment and authority.
John Slattery on the ‘Mad Men’ Midseason Finale, Roger Sterling’s Power Move, and ‘God’s Pocket’
Marlow Stern
May 26, 2014
This unwanted cell replication is more commonly known as cancer.
This Is the Way You’ll Live Forever
Dr. Anand Veeravagu, MD, Tej Azad
May 6, 2014

Historical Examples

They, the restless ones, the unwanted and forgotten, the survivors.
Space Prison
Tom Godwin
It seemed to him that he would be alone and unwanted always.
The Kingdom Round the Corner
Coningsby Dawson
"Let us get into the carriage," said the marquis as though to chase away an unwanted idea.
The Red and the Black
Stendhal
Perhaps he, the old man, would be unwanted, would only be in the way if he went in.
December Love
Robert Hichens
It was thin with tension, and it rang in Johnny's ears with unwanted familiarity.
Sound of Terror
Don Berry

British Dictionary definitions for unwanted

unwanted

adjective

not wanted or desiredan unwanted pregnancy

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 unwanted

adj.

1690s, from un- (1) "not" + past participle of want (v.).

unwanted

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;}}unwanted

Examples from the Web for unwanted

Contemporary Examples

Girls raised in households with more equitable fathers show lower rates of unwanted sex.

Long and his constituents got their way: The buses turned around and the unwanted immigrants aboard them were taken elsewhere.

And having an unwanted man charge under your dress is just plain scary, whether or not you're on the red carpet.

People in that capacity provide wisdom, but also unwanted judgment and authority.

This unwanted cell replication is more commonly known as cancer.

Historical Examples

They, the restless ones, the unwanted and forgotten, the survivors.

It seemed to him that he would be alone and unwanted always.

"Let us get into the carriage," said the marquis as though to chase away an unwanted idea.

Perhaps he, the old man, would be unwanted, would only be in the way if he went in.

It was thin with tension, and it rang in Johnny's ears with unwanted familiarity.

unwanted

Word Origin and History for unwanted

adj.

Origin of unwanted