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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unsavory
Adjective
-
Ornamental onions, chives, and spring onions produce a scent and flavor that squirrels find distasteful.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
3 Apr. 2026
-
That’s a very distasteful election-year predicament for many.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Pope Francis changed the church’s social teaching to declare capital punishment immoral in all cases.—
Nicole Winfield,
Fortune,
23 Apr. 2026
-
For him, in becoming photosynthetic, civilized beings would only gain in hallmarks of intelligence, like autonomy and compassion, given that a species living off starlight converts energy to work without the messy, immoral mediation of a food chain.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
22 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The dusty chocolate coating is bitter and unpleasant, and there isn’t enough salt to offset it.—
Alex Beggs,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Some of it has been very unpleasant for me and many others, especially those who look like me.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Tile backsplashes elevate the space, offering visual and textural appeal that keeps it from feeling too bland or one-note.—
Kamron Sanders,
Better Homes & Gardens,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Potato flautas, a vegetarian dish with fresh avocado, cotija cheese and a guajillo chile salsa were also well executed, but unfortunately bland, with those mashed potatoes in the filling needing more salt.—
Louisa Kung Liu Chu,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The administration has asked for an astonishing $200 billion to fund a war that the president also sporadically claims is over, giving legislators an unappetizing choice between funding a quagmire or else walking away and leaving a mess behind.—
David A. Graham,
The Atlantic,
25 Mar. 2026
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Reaching for your leftover guacamole and discovering it’s turned an unappetizing shade of brown after a day in the fridge.—
Olivia Tarantino,
Martha Stewart,
6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
In February of this year, a district court ruled that DHS's third-country removal practices were unlawful, but the ruling was stayed pending the government's appeal, allowing the deportations to continue.—
Julia Ingram,
CBS News,
1 May 2026
-
Evanston police initially detained five males, and three of them were later charged by the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office on several felony and misdemeanor counts of drug and unlawful weapon possession.—
Claire Murphy,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Usually a team of elegant offense, Michigan instead clanked 13 triples off the rim and relied on its inside defensive ferocity to win a game nearly as aesthetically unpleasing as UConn’s 53-41 win over Butler in 2011.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
7 Apr. 2026
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Rosemary makes one of the best companion plants for apple trees because of its strong scent that's unpleasing to critters looking to snack on a juicy red apple.—
Ashlyn Needham,
The Spruce,
16 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
These thin stainless steel cake testers are not only cheap to replace but also widely available.—
Jennifer Zyman,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
28 Apr. 2026
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That, along with the March trade that sent Sam Carrick to the Buffalo Sabres, would leave them painfully thin down the middle, with little center help coming up through the system.—
Vincent Z. Mercogliano,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unsavory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unsavory. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
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