unsavory

adjective

un·​sa·​vory ˌən-ˈsā-və-rē How to pronounce unsavory (audio)
-ˈsāv-rē
1
2
a
: unpleasant to taste or smell
b
: disagreeable, distasteful
an unsavory assignment
especially : morally offensive
unsavory business practices

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 Much like the trio’s unsavory home videos, Kinetta feels like the stuff of student filmmaking, with experimental swings and unfocused execution. Allaire Nuss, EW.com, 8 Mar. 2024 The shop takes another cue from the fictional candyman with its impressive collection of flavors that numbers in the 400s and ranges from the rare and unusual to the bizarre and unsavory. Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 6 Mar. 2024 Guy Ritchie’s back with another signature mix of dapper and unsavory criminals who get into all sorts of drug-dealing mischief in a new Netflix series. Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 6 Mar. 2024 However, Meta won’t guarantee that the apps on the receiving end of WhatsApp and Messenger users’ chats won’t do anything unsavory. Wes Davis, The Verge, 6 Mar. 2024 Just like those unsavory relatives, leaders cannot—and should not—allow the behaviors of a certain few to hijack the culture for all. Shannon Gabriel, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2024 But the fundamental question Niebuhr raised—how liberal states can reconcile worthy ends with the unsavory means needed to attain them—is timeless. Hal Brands, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2024 Walk away from unsavory situations and toward people who offer new possibilities. Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 2 Mar. 2024 Next in line is one of the more unsavory creatures on the list. Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 29 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'unsavory.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of unsavory was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near unsavory

Cite this Entry

“Unsavory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unsavory. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

unsavory

adjective
un·​sa·​vory ˌən-ˈsāv(-ə)-rē How to pronounce unsavory (audio)
ˈən-
1
: having little or no taste
2
: having a bad taste or smell
3
: morally bad

More from Merriam-Webster on unsavory

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