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 of unsavory
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
The 25-year-old Indianapolis native plays Willa, the daughter of former revolutionaries DiCaprio and Taylor, who goes on the lam when unsavory characters from her parents’ past attempt to track her down.
—
Heather Bushman, IndyStar, 13 Mar. 2026
Tom loves Las Vegas—the kitsch, the unsavory history—and seems almost protective of it.
—Mckay Coppins, The Atlantic, 12 Mar. 2026
Lopsided losses offered unsavory flashbacks to the previous era of Colorado football.
—David Ubben, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2026
Launching an aerial war against Iran serves to pull some attention away from that unsavory topic, at least for the time being.
—Steve Chapman, Chicago Tribune, 4 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unsavory
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Heather Bushman, IndyStar, 13 Mar. 2026
Tom loves Las Vegas—the kitsch, the unsavory history—and seems almost protective of it.
—Mckay Coppins, The Atlantic, 12 Mar. 2026
Lopsided losses offered unsavory flashbacks to the previous era of Colorado football.
—David Ubben, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2026
Launching an aerial war against Iran serves to pull some attention away from that unsavory topic, at least for the time being.
—Steve Chapman, Chicago Tribune, 4 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unsavory
Cite this Entry
“Unsavory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unsavory. Accessed 19 Mar. 2026.
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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