1
as in distasteful
disagreeable or disgusting to the sense of taste
an unsavory blend of spices that simply overwhelmed the fish's delicate flavor
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in immoral
not conforming to a high moral standard; morally unacceptable
unsavory doings that ruined the couple's good name in the community
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in unpleasant
not giving pleasure to the mind or senses
hated the whole unsavory business of firing people
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4
as in bland
lacking in taste or flavor
the unsavory food dished up at the rest area's restaurant should be consumed only by the truly desperate
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unsavory
The problem with that perspective is that if a user enters a prompt of some untoward nature, the odds are that society would expect the AI maker to have detected the unsavory matter.
—
Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Jillian Michaels has loudly broken her silence on a contentious new docuseries on Netflix, which makes claims about the former The Biggest Loser cohost in a variety of its more unsavory scandals.
—Ryan Coleman Published, EW.com, 20 Aug. 2025
Opportunities, however, also create the unsavory proposition of negative reps that could make the staff’s decision for them.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 13 Aug. 2025
When rumors begin to spread of Jekyll’s peculiar behavior and his association with the unsavory Hyde, Utterson fears his friend is being blackmailed.
—Kevin Dickinson, Big Think, 8 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unsavory
Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Jillian Michaels has loudly broken her silence on a contentious new docuseries on Netflix, which makes claims about the former The Biggest Loser cohost in a variety of its more unsavory scandals.
—Ryan Coleman Published, EW.com, 20 Aug. 2025
Opportunities, however, also create the unsavory proposition of negative reps that could make the staff’s decision for them.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 13 Aug. 2025
When rumors begin to spread of Jekyll’s peculiar behavior and his association with the unsavory Hyde, Utterson fears his friend is being blackmailed.
—Kevin Dickinson, Big Think, 8 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unsavory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unsavory
Adjective
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But Republicans were determined to use the revenue produced by a cap to pay for marginal rate cuts that Democrats found distasteful.—
Joseph Thorndike,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
-
The artwork — a graphic close-up shot of a tiny American flag bikini on a woman’s pelvic area — was considered so distasteful by some that chain stores like Walmart and Kmart banned it at the time.—
David Browne,
Rolling Stone,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Meanwhile, cousin Edmund, an aspiring clergyman, falls under the charms of Mary Crawford, written by Austen as a charming but immoral woman.—
Emily Zarevich,
JSTOR Daily,
11 Sep. 2025
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Ladapo said the decision was not reached according to the data, but instead on his view that vaccine mandates are immoral and outside the scope of the government’s authority.—
Sarah Fortinsky,
The Hill,
7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Just the prospect of interacting with that person can be unpleasant or feel draining.—
Josh Davis,
Fortune,
17 Sep. 2025
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One unpleasant but necessary aspect of board service is disciplinary action against unneighborly behavior by members.—
Kelly G. Richardson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Bad salad kits have sloppy cuts of vegetables, meager toppings and oily or single-note dressings that are either too salty or just plain bland.—
Jolene Thym,
Mercury News,
16 Sep. 2025
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PetMD advises a bland, easy-to-digest diet made up of lean proteins such as chicken or turkey, simple carbohydrates like rice or potatoes, and low fat content.—
Lydia Patrick,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Among the all-natural brands, the color might seem anathema, even unappetizing.—
Shayla Love,
New Yorker,
8 Aug. 2025
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Analysts have warned that political polarization and unappetizing electoral options for voters may well yield a fractured vote.—
Vasuki Shastry,
Forbes.com,
25 July 2025
Adjective
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In November, jurors convicted Martinez of unlawful compensation and a related conspiracy charge.—
Douglas Hanks,
Miami Herald,
15 Sep. 2025
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The world’s highest court, the International Court of Justice, has ruled that there is a plausible risk of genocide in Gaza, and that Israel’s occupation and apartheid against Palestinians are unlawful.—
Chris Gardner,
HollywoodReporter,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Smears on non-sensor areas of the tiara are like bug debris on your hood, aesthetically unpleasing but not harmful.—
Eric Tegler,
Popular Mechanics,
1 Oct. 2019
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His side's inability to finish off the game against Burnley on the other hand was very unpleasing.—
SI.com,
SI.com,
1 Feb. 2018
Adjective
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Vogue’s Favorite Gold Necklaces Featured in this article With an endless array of iterations—from thin, barely-there metallic strands to bolder, statement-making chains that instantly command attention—gold chain necklaces are some of the best gold jewelry pieces to add to your collection.—
Samantha Solomon,
Vogue,
18 Sep. 2025
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Maternal health remains under-researched compared to other therapeutic areas, and the pharmaceutical pipeline is thin—just 91 compounds in development, versus thousands for areas like neurology or dermatology.—
Shelley Stewart III,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unsavory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unsavory. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
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