unpopular

adjective

un·​pop·​u·​lar ˌən-ˈpä-pyə-lər How to pronounce unpopular (audio)
Synonyms of unpopularnext
: not popular : viewed or received unfavorably by the public
unpopularity noun
unpopularly adverb

Examples of unpopular in a Sentence

I was unpopular in high school. Her third album has been unpopular with fans. Recent conflicts have made him unpopular among the staff.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The idea of deploying troops to the region as part of a large-scale ground war effort is deeply unpopular among Americans, new polling shows. Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA Today, 21 Mar. 2026 That terrible war dims in the national memory, but to be Gen X is to be born into the cultural tumult of the Vietnam War, a deeply unpopular and brutal conflict fought by tens of thousands of young men forced into service. John Devore, Rolling Stone, 20 Mar. 2026 The conflict is highly unpopular in Japan, whose post-World War II constitution restricts its military to self-defense. Janis MacKey Frayer, NBC news, 19 Mar. 2026 Chapek’s woes as Disney chief have been well documented, from his tangles in Florida to an ugly public spat with Scarlett Johansson to alienating top executives by removing creative decision-making authority in a hugely unpopular restructuring. Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 18 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unpopular

Word History

First Known Use

1614, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unpopular was in 1614

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Unpopular.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unpopular. Accessed 22 Mar. 2026.

Kids Definition

unpopular

adjective
un·​pop·​u·​lar ˌən-ˈpäp-yə-lər How to pronounce unpopular (audio)
ˈən-
: not popular : disliked by many people

More from Merriam-Webster on unpopular

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster