English Reference
Adjective

unpleasant

adj.
B1 Intermediate Oxford US /ənˈpɫɛzənt/ UK /ʌnplˈɛzənt/ un·pleas·ant

adj.not nice or enjoyable. You use it to describe things that make you feel uncomfortable, unhappy, or slightly annoyed.

adj.causing discomfort, dissatisfaction, or displeasure. Often used to describe sensory experiences or social interactions that are disagreeable without being extreme.


SIMPLE

The medicine has a very unpleasant taste.

CONTEXTUAL

We had to cancel our picnic because the weather turned cold and unpleasant.

COMPLEX

The manager was forced to have an unpleasant conversation with the staff regarding the recent budget cuts and potential layoffs.

Usage

Commonly modifies nouns related to senses (smell, taste) or social situations (surprise, task).


From Middle English unplesaunt, equivalent to un- + pleasant.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Middle English unplesaunt
Level B1 · Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated