unattractive

adjective

un·​at·​trac·​tive ˌən-ə-ˈtrak-tiv How to pronounce unattractive (audio)
: not attractive : plain, dull
unattractively adverb
unattractiveness noun

Examples of unattractive in a Sentence

an unattractive, awkward baby bird
Recent Examples on the Web The jerseys of the new uniforms, which were designed by Nike and manufactured by Fanatics, have already drawn criticism from fans for looking cheap, feeling flimsy and having an unattractive design. Cnn.com, The Mercury News, 23 Feb. 2024 The offspring of physically attractive parents tend to earn more money over the course of their working lives than kids with regular-looking or unattractive parents, a new study finds. Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 8 Feb. 2024 The game remained an unattractive slugfest of an unattractive game of slugfest proportions. Steve Gardner, USA TODAY, 11 Feb. 2024 Harvard is a hundred different things and places, prominent, alas, among them is its deeply unattractive antisemitic streak. Brian T. Allen, National Review, 11 Jan. 2024 Vertical gardening elements can draw attention to an area or disguise an unattractive view. Deb Wiley, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Jan. 2024 That makes shiny stones that pay no interest look more attractive—or rather, less unattractive—to investors. Joe Wallace, WSJ, 5 Dec. 2023 Researchers found that, over the course of an academic year, middle schoolers grew increasingly unpopular and more likely to misuse alcohol if they were considered unattractive and unathletic, and that such shortcomings are no longer seen as gender-specific. Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harper's Magazine, 16 Oct. 2023 Or better, drop your ideologically unattractive subject and take up a sure winner. WSJ, 12 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'unattractive.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1813, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unattractive was in 1813

Dictionary Entries Near unattractive

Cite this Entry

“Unattractive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unattractive. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

unattractive

adjective
un·​at·​trac·​tive -ˈtrak-tiv How to pronounce unattractive (audio)
: not attractive : plain
unattractively adverb
unattractiveness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on unattractive

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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