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unappealing

unappealing

15 4.1
Not attractive, pleasant, or interesting
  • adjective
  • /ˌʌnəˈpiːlɪŋ/
translation icon : poco atractivo
  • The room into which the new arrival ventured was grim and unappealing.
  • make it unappealing

And what it also does is make real life look fundamentally unappealing.

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Examples

  • More specifically, there were certain aspects about a career in the military that respondents found unappealing.

    Academic text (2002)
  • Why do women and students of color find academic careers so unappealing?

    Academic text (2005)
  • If all of this sounds rather unappealing, it's because it is.

  • So that that also sounds a little unappealing, but we'll build on this to make a data structure that actually works.

  • The thought of living with my sister was as unappealing to me as it was to her.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • A travel destination that most would find quite unappealing might have a very special attraction for some.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • The meals there are institutional: largely bland, unappealing, and prepared with only nutrition in mind.

    Academic text (1991)
  • Otherwise, homework can become drudgery that makes school unpleasant and unappealing (Gratz 2000).

    Academic text (2001)
  • The restaurant's interior was unappealing, with outdated decor and dim lighting.

  • Many people found the idea of eating bugs unappealing, despite it being a sustainable protein source.

Synonyms

unpleasant
vsunappealing
215 1.0

Not nice and causing discomfort or unhappiness

is milder, focusing on simply lacking pleasantness or interest
hideous
vsunappealing
171 5.1

Very ugly and likely to make people feel shocked or disgusted

is less intense, referring to general lack of interest or pleasantness
bland
vsunappealing
31 2.8

A thing that has no strong character and few interesting features

is stronger, covering absence of charm, beauty, or pleasantness
undesirable
vsunappealing
31 4.6

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

is milder and neutral, meaning simply not pleasing or interesting
uninteresting
vsunappealing
20 1.4

Not exciting and likely to make people bored

is broader, also about lacking pleasantness or pleasing looks
unattractive
vsunappealing
16 2.5

Not interesting or likely to make people want it

is broader, also pointing to lack of interest or pleasantness
unsightly
vsunappealing
15 4.5

Unpleasant to look at

is broader, adding lack of interest or general bad feeling
unpalatable
vsunappealing
9 7.4

Tastes bad or is hard to accept

is more general, referring to lack of pleasing quality beyond taste
uninspiring
vsunappealing
7 3.5

Not interesting or exciting

is about simple lack of pleasing quality or enjoyment rather than motivation
unglamorous
vsunappealing
4 5.4

Not attractive or exciting and often plain

is about being plain but not necessarily bad or dull
unexciting
vsunappealing
3 3.2

Not interesting or exciting

is used for lack of good feeling or pleasing quality too
charmless
vsunappealing
2 4.2

Not pleasant or attractive

covers lack of interest or pleasure beyond mere charm
uninviting
vsunappealing
2 4.6

Not pleasant or welcoming and likely to keep people away

is broader, covering lack of interest or general pleasantness
ugly as sin
vsunappealing
  • Offensive
2 7.2

Very unpleasant to look at or to be with

is milder, used when something simply fails to please or draw interest
unbeautiful
vsunappealing
1 6.2

Not attractive in looks or style

is wider, including lack of interest or general pleasant quality
unlovely
vsunappealing
1 6.0

Not attractive and unpleasant to see or hear

is broader, also meaning something dull or not enjoyable
uncharming
vsunappealing
1 4.5

Not pleasant to be with or attractive to look at

is about lack of interest or pleasant quality, not only manner
unaesthetic
vsunappealing
1 8.1

Not pleasant to look at

is more general, also covering lack of interest or enjoyment
unhandsome
vsunappealing
1 6.6

Not attractive to look at

includes lack of interest or pleasant feeling beyond looks
unpleasing
vsunappealing
1 4.8

Unpleasant to the senses, like a bitter taste or bright light

is broader, not only sensory displeasure but also lack of interest
unalluring
vsunappealing
6.8

Not attractive or interesting

emphasizes lack of charm rather than overall pleasantness
unentertaining
vsunappealing
4.5

Not interesting to watch, read or listen to

is broader, covering lack of interest or pleasant quality beyond fun

Antonyms

680 1.0

Pleasing to look at or enjoy and making people interested

138 2.3

Makes people like it, for example a friendly smile or a new idea

How Appealing

gorgeous
692 2.0
attractive
680 1.0
pleasant
314 1.0
plain
50 2.5
unappealing
15 4.1
repulsive
59 5.5

Surface Forms

unappealing positive
unappealinger comparative
unappealingest superlative

Morphology

unappealing = appealing (transparent) = un + appeal + ing

The adjective is formed by adding un- to 'appealing' and straightforwardly means 'not attractive'.

Etymology

Unappealing starts with un-, which means 'not', and the rest comes from appeal, which means 'to attract' or 'to please'. So unappealing describes something that does not attract or please you, in other words not attractive or pleasant.