unsavory
adjective
un·sa·vory ˌən-ˈsā-və-rē 
-ˈsāv-rē
1
: insipid, tasteless
2
a
: unpleasant to taste or smell
b
: disagreeable, distasteful
an unsavory assignment
especially : morally offensive
unsavory business practices
Synonyms
- brackish
- distasteful
- unappetizing
- unpalatable
- yucky
- yukky
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
He is an unsavory character. an unsavory blend of spices that simply overwhelmed the fish's delicate flavor
Recent Examples on the Web And there is an unsavory aspect to sending busloads of migrants to destinations chosen for political reasons. 
The Editors, National Review, 16 Sep. 2022 The author retraces the Romantic agony of the spirit into a familiar, ahistoric and unsavory dead-end: eternal Aryan virtues versus the eternal Jewish problem. Dominic Green, WSJ, 16 Sep. 2022 By 2013, the area’s diversity was drawing favorable attention from a younger crowd not burdened by unsavory impressions of its past. Roger Vincent, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2022 The testimony and evidence presented at trial presented an unsavory picture of how city contracting can be manipulated and exploited for private gain. Leon Stafford, ajc, 8 Sep. 2022 And that discovery of secret documents at Mar-a-Largo has produced its own unsavory measure of glee from the left. Ted Gup, CNN, 29 Aug. 2022 The unsavory scam has become all too popular in crypto, including with YouTubers like BitBoy who dress up their pump-and-dumps as investment advice. Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 25 Aug. 2022 This has been an unsavory case, reflecting poorly on the Browns, Watson and the NFL. Terry Pluto, cleveland, 14 Aug. 2022 The mark of a good villain is one who can provoke the most unsavory of human emotions, such as disgust, hatred, sadness, or anger. Nitya Rao, Seventeen, 11 Aug. 2022 See More
The Editors, National Review, 16 Sep. 2022 The author retraces the Romantic agony of the spirit into a familiar, ahistoric and unsavory dead-end: eternal Aryan virtues versus the eternal Jewish problem. Dominic Green, WSJ, 16 Sep. 2022 By 2013, the area’s diversity was drawing favorable attention from a younger crowd not burdened by unsavory impressions of its past. Roger Vincent, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2022 The testimony and evidence presented at trial presented an unsavory picture of how city contracting can be manipulated and exploited for private gain. Leon Stafford, ajc, 8 Sep. 2022 And that discovery of secret documents at Mar-a-Largo has produced its own unsavory measure of glee from the left. Ted Gup, CNN, 29 Aug. 2022 The unsavory scam has become all too popular in crypto, including with YouTubers like BitBoy who dress up their pump-and-dumps as investment advice. Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 25 Aug. 2022 This has been an unsavory case, reflecting poorly on the Browns, Watson and the NFL. Terry Pluto, cleveland, 14 Aug. 2022 The mark of a good villain is one who can provoke the most unsavory of human emotions, such as disgust, hatred, sadness, or anger. Nitya Rao, Seventeen, 11 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
unsavory
adjective
1
as in distasteful
disagreeable or disgusting to the sense of taste an unsavory blend of spices that simply overwhelmed the fish's delicate flavor Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- distasteful
- unappetizing
- unpalatable
- bad
- nasty
- horrible
- awful
- yucky
- brackish
- filthy
- loathsome
- obnoxious
- repugnant
- repulsive
- revolting
- offensive
- bland
- abominable
- sickening
- nauseating
- yukky
- shocking
- foul
- noisome
- repellent
- tasteless
- insipid
- repellant
- flavorless
- savorless
- flat
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- delicious
- delectable
- appetizing
- tasty
- palatable
- savory
- yummy
- toothsome
- savoury
- attractive
- rich
- flavorful
- appealing
- piquant
- delish
2
as in immoral
not conforming to a high moral standard; morally unacceptable unsavory doings that ruined the couple's good name in the community Synonyms & Similar Words
- immoral
- unlawful
- evil
- vile
- sinful
- vicious
- bad
- dark
- wicked
- nefarious
- villainous
- rotten
- obscene
- unethical
- offensive
- corrupt
- infamous
- unauthorized
- illegal
- cruel
- wrong
- ugly
- improper
- iniquitous
- unrighteous
- dirty
- nasty
- sordid
- disreputable
- cursed
- despicable
- objectionable
- ignoble
- contemptible
- pernicious
- naughty
- dishonest
- reprehensible
- condemned
- unwholesome
- depraved
- prohibited
- perverted
- noxious
- infernal
- unhealthy
- forbidden
- atrocious
- unscrupulous
- snide
- ungodly
- pestilential
- base
- reprobate
- unseemly
- censurable
- dissolute
- ill
- debauched
- scrofulous
- mean
- libertine
- debased
- unprincipled
- degenerate
- sick
- incorrect
- fallen
- indecorous
- unclean
- dishonorable
- loose
- vulgar
- evil-minded
- indecent
- miserable
- blameworthy
- proscribed
- banned
- low-minded
- defiling
- wretched
- outlawed
- discouraged
- blamable
- execrable
- errant
- unbecoming
- barred
- lousy
- disallowed
- interdicted
- low
- cussed
- erring
- curst
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- moral
- good
- honorable
- ethical
- legitimate
- virtuous
- noble
- legal
- righteous
- honest
- decent
- right
- sublime
- high
- reputable
- lofty
- scrupulous
- upright
- elevated
- just
- permissible
- permitted
- legitimate
- high-minded
- proper
- authorized
- licensed
- sanctioned
- correct
- decent
- endorsed
- approved
- exemplary
- decorous
- clean
- principled
- allowed
- law-abiding
- wholesome
- unobjectionable
- promoted
- innocent
- seemly
- white
- creditable
- supported
- commendable
- pure
- inoffensive
- perfect
- encouraged
- worthy
- blameless
- guiltless
- irreproachable
- esteemed
- venerable
- immaculate
- spotless
- incorruptible
- chaste
- respected
- uncorrupted
- abetted
- unerring
- indorsed
- squeaky-clean
- lily-white
- unfallen
- upstanding
3
as in unpleasant
not giving pleasure to the mind or senses hated the whole unsavory business of firing people Synonyms & Similar Words
- unpleasant
- unpleasing
- harsh
- nasty
- bad
- disgusting
- ugly
- sour
- bitter
- horrible
- unwelcome
- distasteful
- disagreeable
- sickening
- awful
- rotten
- unpalatable
- icky
- wicked
- vile
- shocking
- unlovely
- uncongenial
- yucky
- displeasing
- odious
- dreadful
- scandalous
- hideous
- loathsome
- seamy
- repugnant
- revolting
- repulsive
- villainous
- obnoxious
- annoying
- abhorrent
- offensive
- invidious
- abominable
- unholy
- irritating
- ghastly
- hateful
- appalling
- nauseating
- horrid
- yukky
- obscene
- foul
- noisome
- horrendous
- gross
- hellish
- repellent
- aggravating
- sick
- bilious
- vexing
- gnarly
- revulsive
- crummy
- wretched
- beastly
- nauseous
- miserable
- galling
- repellant
- god-awful
- crappy
- lousy
- cruddy
- sucky
- crumby
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- pleasant
- good
- agreeable
- congenial
- nice
- palatable
- gratifying
- satisfying
- pleasurable
- grateful
- delightful
- delicious
- welcome
- sweet
- charming
- pleasing
- friendly
- amiable
- felicitous
- delectable
- dreamy
- jolly
- kindly
- cheery
4
as in bland
lacking in taste or flavor the unsavory food dished up at the rest area's restaurant should be consumed only by the truly desperate Synonyms & Similar Words
- bland
- tasteless
- insipid
- thin
- flavorless
- plain
- weak
- flat
- savorless
- dilute
- dead
- watery
- unflavored
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- distasteful
- disgusting
- loathsome
- tasty
- unpalatable
- savory
- flavorful
- unappetizing
- tasteful
- sickening
- delicious
- delectable
- palatable
- appetizing
- cloying
- mawkish
- flavorsome
- savoury
- sapid
- spicy
- rich
- piquant
- seasoned
- flavored
- heavy
- toothsome
- keen
- decerebrizing
- decern
- decerned
- decerning
- decerns
- decerp
- decertification
- decertifications
- decertified
- decertifies
- decertify
- decertifying
- decession
- decessions
- dechenite
- dechlorinate
- dechlorinated
- dechlorinates
- dechlorinating
- dechlorination
- dechlorinations
- dechristianise
- dechristianised
- dechristianises
- dechristianising