Word
unappealing
Phoneticsun·ap·peal·ing, stress on the third syllable
US/ˌənəˈpiɫɪŋ/
UK/ʌnɐpˈiːlɪŋ/
Definition
adj. not attractive or pleasant, so you do not want it or enjoy it. You use it for food, places, ideas, or offers that do not interest you.
adj. lacking attractiveness or desirability; failing to arouse interest, appetite, or approval. Often modified by degree adverbs such as 'rather', 'slightly', or 'very'.
Examples
“This cold soup looks quite unappealing to me.”
“He finds the night shift unappealing because he prefers to sleep at night.”
“The proposal, though financially sound, remained unappealing to voters who feared its long-term social costs.”
Examples
simple
“This cold soup looks quite unappealing to me.”
contextual
“He finds the night shift unappealing because he prefers to sleep at night.”
complex
“The proposal, though financially sound, remained unappealing to voters who feared its long-term social costs.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “unappealing” in context.
Verb
01. consider unappealing
“Investors currently consider the offer too risky and unappealing.”
verb + adj
02. find unappealing
“Many teenagers find traditional museums dull and unappealing.”
verb + adj
03. look unappealing
“The leftovers looked unappealing after two days in the fridge.”
verb + adj
04. make unappealing
“Overcooking vegetables can make them soft and unappealing.”
verb + adj
05. seem unappealing
“At first the job seemed unappealing because of the night shifts.”
verb + adj
06. sound unappealing
“A six-hour bus journey sounds unappealing compared to the train.”
verb + adj
Adjective
07. increasingly unappealing
“Long commutes make city-centre jobs increasingly unappealing to graduates.”
adv + adj
08. an unappealing prospect for investors
“With rising costs, the project is an unappealing prospect for investors.”
09. find the idea unappealing
“Many voters find the idea of higher taxes deeply unappealing.”
10. look increasingly unappealing
“Without investment, the town centre looks increasingly unappealing to tourists.”
11. make healthy food unappealing
“Boiling vegetables for too long can make healthy food unappealing.”
12. sound unappealing to voters
“Promising spending cuts may sound unappealing to voters before an election.”
Real-World Examples
“Alternatively, a melancholiac might be advised to eat ostrich liver – a suggestion I find particularly unappealing, though I could be persuaded to test the supposed benefits of precious stones.” “You don’t want to set the price point of a bundle at such a level that it makes paying for your other products unappealing.” “The offending friend was guilty of getting an unappealing haircut just before the accuser’s wedding.” “These unappealing cones of green sludge are destined for an ambitious purpose: they are samples at the world's first plant to convert sewage into clean fuel.” Synonyms
Antonyms
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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