unwelcome

British  

/ ʌnˈwɛlkəm /

adjective

1. (of persons) not welcome

2. causing dissatisfaction or displeasure

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Other Word Forms

• unwelcomeness
  noun
• unwelcomely
  adverb

Explanation

Things that are unwelcome are unpleasant or objectionable in some way. An unwelcome guest is one you didn't invite and you're not particularly happy to see. People are sometimes unwelcome, like your boring cousin who shows up unexpectedly for a long visit at the worst time. Things can also be unwelcome, like bad news or heckling from the audience during your stand-up comedy routine. Anything you don't wish for and don't appreciate can be described as unwelcome. Welcome has its roots in the Old English wilcuma, a friendly greeting and earlier "a welcome guest," from willa, "pleasure or choice," and cuma, "guest."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

unwelcome

As locals and visitors make the trip to Northern Ireland's lakes in search of summer sunshine, they are once again facing an unwelcome sight: blue-green algae.

From BBC ● Jul. 26, 2026

For the eurozone, which has faced multiple economic shocks in recent years, any additional impediments to an economic recovery will be unwelcome.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026

NBC’s “Today” show cast and crew dealt with an unexpected and unwelcome guest off-screen Thursday who was ultimately arrested by New York police.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 16, 2026

They’ve crafted the ideal framework for Gail’s journey, where calling on Slattery is never unwelcome.

From Salon ● Jul. 12, 2026

But the last of his resistance was dispelled by a flash of unwelcome news one day in September.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik

Related Words

• disagreeable
• distasteful
• objectionable
• obnoxious
• unacceptable
• undesirable
• uninvited
• unpleasant
• unwanted