unsavory
adjective
un·sa·vory
ˌən-ˈsā-və-rē 
-ˈsāv-rē
2
a
: unpleasant to taste or smell
b
: disagreeable, distasteful
an unsavory assignment
especially
: morally offensive
unsavory business practices
Synonyms
Examples of unsavory in a Sentence
He is an unsavory character.
an unsavory blend of spices that simply overwhelmed the fish's delicate flavor
Recent Examples on the Web
Gambling on sports was once difficult and unsavory, but in the last five years, since the Supreme Court struck down a federal law prohibiting states from legalizing sports betting, the zone has been absolutely flooded by apps.
—
Corbin Smith, Rolling Stone, 31 Mar. 2024
What the Schiff and the crypto campaigns did may have been unsavory to many, but there was nothing out of the normal bounds of tough campaigns.
—Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Mar. 2024
Blazer described how the system really worked, with the coaches, sneaker companies, agents, financial advisors, boosters and unsavory hustlers and runners engaged in vast conspiracies to evade the rules of amateurism.
—Guy Lawson, Rolling Stone, 24 Mar. 2024
With all of these unsavory associations in mind, does mewing have any sort of validity?
—Max Bennett, Discover Magazine, 22 Mar. 2024
Reddit’s challenge has been reining in the unsavory sides of that anything-goes culture.
—Paresh Dave, WIRED, 21 Mar. 2024
Much like the trio’s unsavory home videos, Kinetta feels like the stuff of student filmmaking, with experimental swings and unfocused execution.
—Allaire Nuss, EW.com, 8 Mar. 2024
The shop takes another cue from the fictional candyman with its impressive collection of flavors that numbers in the 400s and ranges from the rare and unusual to the bizarre and unsavory.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 6 Mar. 2024
Guy Ritchie’s back with another signature mix of dapper and unsavory criminals who get into all sorts of drug-dealing mischief in a new Netflix series.
—Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 6 Mar. 2024
Corbin Smith, Rolling Stone, 31 Mar. 2024
What the Schiff and the crypto campaigns did may have been unsavory to many, but there was nothing out of the normal bounds of tough campaigns.
—Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Mar. 2024
Blazer described how the system really worked, with the coaches, sneaker companies, agents, financial advisors, boosters and unsavory hustlers and runners engaged in vast conspiracies to evade the rules of amateurism.
—Guy Lawson, Rolling Stone, 24 Mar. 2024
With all of these unsavory associations in mind, does mewing have any sort of validity?
—Max Bennett, Discover Magazine, 22 Mar. 2024
Reddit’s challenge has been reining in the unsavory sides of that anything-goes culture.
—Paresh Dave, WIRED, 21 Mar. 2024
Much like the trio’s unsavory home videos, Kinetta feels like the stuff of student filmmaking, with experimental swings and unfocused execution.
—Allaire Nuss, EW.com, 8 Mar. 2024
The shop takes another cue from the fictional candyman with its impressive collection of flavors that numbers in the 400s and ranges from the rare and unusual to the bizarre and unsavory.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 6 Mar. 2024
Guy Ritchie’s back with another signature mix of dapper and unsavory criminals who get into all sorts of drug-dealing mischief in a new Netflix series.
—Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 6 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'unsavory.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near unsavory
Cite this Entry
“Unsavory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unsavory. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
unsavory
adjective
un·sa·vory
ˌən-ˈsāv(-ə)-rē
ˈən-
1
: having little or no taste
2
: having a bad taste or smell
3
: morally bad
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