unwished-for

Examples

• All

• The mysterious someone who had brought them knew her better than she knew herself: she would tolerate virtually any living thing that sprang up in her yard and would not be the one to neglect even these unwished-for plants to their deaths.

  Fiction book (1994)

• It bears noting that fatalism is mainly used negatively, only explaining what is unwished for.

  Academic text (2015)

• The cost of simplifying this truth is immense cruelty—cruelty to the bean when, truly developed, it becomes a frightened teenager who is to be compelled by law to carry her unwished-for pregnancy through with all the trauma that involves.

  Blog text (32)

• The unwished-for changes in the schedule caused confusion among the students.

• He received an unwished-for reminder of his mistakes when he saw the old photos.

Synonyms

U

unwanted

vsunwished-for

120 1.0

People do not like or need it

focuses on being not wished for rather than also lacking need

U

unwelcome

vsunwished-for

45 4.3

Not wanted and causing upset or trouble

refers to absence of wish rather than causing active displeasure

U

undesirable

vsunwished-for

31 4.6

Not wanted because it is unpleasant, harmful, or causes problems

simply signals not being wished for without implying harm

U

undesired

vsunwished-for

2 3.8

Not wanted or welcome

simply notes lack of wish without adding a judgment of wrongness

U

unasked-for

vsunwished-for

1 6.2

Given to someone who does not want it

indicates lack of wish rather than absence of a prior request

U

unwished

vsunwished-for

8.3

Not wanted or welcome

is the hyphenated modern form rather than the single form

U

uncoveted

vsunwished-for

7.6

Not wanted by anyone

can mean not welcome or wanted even if some people might desire it

Antonyms

W

welcome

∞ 1.0

Pleasing and gladly accepted

W

wanted

1.0

A person or thing many people are looking for

How Unwanted

detested

4.4

unwanted

120 1.0

undesired

2 3.8

unwished-for

6.9

unwelcome

45 4.3

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology