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Synonyms

unwanted

American  
[uhn-won-tid, ‐-wawn‐] / ʌnˈwɒn tɪd, ‐ˈwɔn‐ /

adjective

  1. not desired or needed; not wanted.

    My absence generated some unwanted attention.
unwanted British  
/ ʌnˈwɒntɪd /

adjective

  1. not wanted or desired

    an 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

Etymology

Origin of unwanted

First recorded in 1695–1700; un- 1 ( def. ) + want ( def. ) + -ed 2 ( def. )

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.

Demand in China has been wobbly, and the company has been trying to sell off piles of unwanted casual sneakers, like Dunks and Air Force 1s.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 15, 2026

They added that the prison involved had added "stronger checks on prisoner mail to ensure any unwanted contact is prevented".

From BBC • Apr. 12, 2026

In the days since the accusation became public, other women have come forward with allegations of misconduct, including claims of unwanted touching and inappropriate behavior, according to CNN and other outlets.

From Salon • Apr. 11, 2026

The surface atoms are arranged in a uniform and highly ordered way, and unwanted impurities are greatly reduced.

From Science Daily • Apr. 4, 2026

A vanishing like that could make you feel the deepest sort of unseen and unwanted, and suddenly she is feeling those same things again.

From "A Heart in a Body in the World" by Deb Caletti

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.