# unattractive

/ˌənəˈtɹæktɪv/ (US) · /ʌnɐtɹˈæktɪv/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/unattractive
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. not beautiful

adjective · CEFR B1

not pleasing to look at; not handsome or pretty.

For teachers: lacking aesthetic appeal or physical beauty.

- The old factory was an unattractive building made of grey concrete.
- The developer faced criticism for replacing the historic park with an unattractive block of luxury apartments that clashed with the local architecture.

### 2. not appealing or desirable

adjective · CEFR B2

not interesting or not a good choice.

For teachers: lacking qualities that invite interest or desire; disadvantageous or unappealing in a professional or financial context.

- The low salary made the job offer very unattractive to most applicants.
- High interest rates and market volatility made the long-term bond look increasingly unattractive to conservative investors.

## Examples

- The old, grey building looked very unattractive.
- The high interest rates made the loan offer unattractive to most small business owners.
- While the interior of the house was beautifully renovated, the overgrown garden and peeling exterior paint made the property unattractive to potential buyers.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.