1
as in harmful
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2
as in impractical
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3
as in impolite
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unhelpful
Paul Gleason portrayed Dwayne Robinson, the somewhat unhelpful deputy chief who initially doesn’t believe that McClane is a good guy.
—
Keith Langston, PEOPLE, 27 Dec. 2025
Epstein library search function unhelpful Congress directed that the Epstein records be publicly searchable.
—Bart Jansen, USA Today, 19 Dec. 2025
Williams calls out a few bad actors but might have been more emphatic in pointing to the most unhelpful figures, particularly among the international spoilers.
—Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
These consisted of different types of cognitive behavioral therapy, which often involves talking with a therapist to change unhelpful thinking patterns and identify behaviors that affect mood and stress.
—Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 11 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unhelpful
Keith Langston, PEOPLE, 27 Dec. 2025
Epstein library search function unhelpful Congress directed that the Epstein records be publicly searchable.
—Bart Jansen, USA Today, 19 Dec. 2025
Williams calls out a few bad actors but might have been more emphatic in pointing to the most unhelpful figures, particularly among the international spoilers.
—Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
These consisted of different types of cognitive behavioral therapy, which often involves talking with a therapist to change unhelpful thinking patterns and identify behaviors that affect mood and stress.
—Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 11 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unhelpful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unhelpful
Adjective
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In order to rule in her favor, jurors will have to parse the harmful actions of fellow users — including her high school bullies and adult men sending her unsolicited nudes — from design decisions made by the companies themselves.—
Sonja Sharp,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Feb. 2026
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Many of these jars contain unknown or poorly documented chemical mixtures that could be toxic to humans or harmful to the specimens themselves if disturbed.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Along with complaints about the building’s size, the Geffen Galleries’ heavy use of concrete had been criticized as an impractical choice for hanging art.—
Malia Mendez,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Feb. 2026
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Erdoğan’s speeches are full of practical advice about how to destroy the left, such as calling progressives lazy, impractical alcoholics funded by globalist lobbies and contrasting the efficiency of an imperial president with the messiness of parliamentary policymaking.—
Kaya Genç,
The Dial,
3 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Not a historical correction, but an emotional one: an impolite acknowledgment of something people feel they are usually expected to soften, qualify, or leave unsaid.—
Philip Martin,
Washington Post,
26 Jan. 2026
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For years, pointing out the obvious was considered impolite: America’s biggest, most distortionary transfer of wealth does not flow from elites to the working class.—
Veronique De Rugy,
Oc Register,
21 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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On some of the country’s biggest lakes, often hundreds of miles wide with no current, an unfavorable wind made a waterway impassible.—
Outside,
Outside,
7 Feb. 2026
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That is, clinicians have a duty to restrict the range of clinical options, because medical interventions with unfavorable risk/benefit profiles can set back patients’ health interests rather than protecting or promoting them.—
Torie Bosch,
STAT,
7 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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In previous winters, the bathroom pipes in his unit froze making the toilet and shower unusable, but property managers resolved it within a day or two, DeFelice said.—
Don Stacom,
Hartford Courant,
7 Feb. 2026
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Here are examples of what to avoid in winter, including the number one item that could turn your black gold into a stinky, unusable mess.—
Barbara Gillette,
The Spruce,
1 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Karlsson was on the wrong side of the puck all evening, made careless decisions and generally played a thoughtless game.—
Josh Yohe,
New York Times,
3 Feb. 2026
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Facing the prospect of a return to normalcy, and perhaps emboldened by Yaya’s thoughtless offer to hire Agnes as her assistant, Agnes picks up a rock and prepares to murder the model with it.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Large hail up to quarter size and damaging winds of up to 60 mph are possible both Friday and Saturday afternoon and evenings.—
Isa Almeida,
Oklahoman,
12 Feb. 2026
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But growth stalled, due both to the pandemic and damaging revelations about Glossier’s corporate culture during the racial justice movement following the murder of George Floyd.—
Jenny B. Fine,
Footwear News,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Homeowners and residents are baffled by the attacks upon their beautiful — but otherwise seemingly useless — plants.—
Tribune News Service,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
31 Jan. 2026
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My deep cynicism thinks this was a diabolical plan to herd young people toward expensive, and somewhat useless, college degrees.—
Tim Carter,
Hartford Courant,
31 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unhelpful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unhelpful. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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