Word
undesirable
Phoneticsun·de·sir·able
US/ˌəndɪˈzaɪɹəbəɫ/
UK/ˌʌndɪzˈaɪəɹəbəl/
Definitions
01not wanted or unpleasant
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. describing something that you do not want to happen because it is bad or causes problems.
adj. not desirable or pleasing; describing an outcome or quality that is objectionable or disadvantageous.
“The new factory might have some undesirable effects on the local environment.”
“The medication was effective at treating the primary infection, though it produced several undesirable side effects that patients found difficult to tolerate.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
02an unwanted person
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Formal
n. a person who is not wanted in a place because they are seen as trouble or low-quality.
n. a person considered socially or morally objectionable. Often used in the plural to refer to a group of people perceived as a threat to order.
“The hotel security tried to keep undesirables away from the private party.”
“The local council was criticized for its attempts to clear the park of what it termed 'undesirables' during the international summit.”
Usage
Usually appears in the plural form 'undesirables'.
Teaching tip
This noun sense can sound quite harsh or judgmental; it is often used by authorities or in older literature to describe people they want to remove.
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“In part, this research gap exists because it is difficult to get accurate data on socially undesirable behaviors .” “Because they’re so small, they extract quickly, creating an undesirable flavour.” “Excessive contact time can extract undesirable compounds and reduce cup quality.” Etymology
From un- + desirable.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- 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 C1.785–944EikenEikenTest in Practical English ProficiencyThe English proficiency test from the Eiken Foundation of Japan, widely taken by Japanese students. Grades run from 5 to 1, with Pre-1 and Pre-2 between them.Pre-1
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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