undesirable
/ʌndɪˈzʌɪərəb(ə)l
/adjective
Not wanted or desirable because harmful, objectionable, or unpleasant: the drug’s undesirable side effects...
- Of course in practice, all substances produce both desirable and undesirable effects.
- In the same way, a good parent encourages desirable acts and discourages undesirable ones.
- They also can sort desirable and undesirable messages by means of automatic filters.
Synonyms
unpleasant, disagreeable, nasty, unacceptable, unwelcome, unwanted, unwished-for, unenviable, unappealing;
unfortunate, infelicitous
unpleasant, disagreeable, distasteful, displeasing, unacceptable, off-putting, obnoxious;
nasty, disgusting, awful, terrible, dreadful, frightful, repulsive, repellent, repugnant, revolting, abhorrent, loathsome, hateful, detestable, reprehensible, deplorable, appalling, insufferable, intolerable, despicable, contemptible, beyond the pale, odious, vile, obscene, foul, unsavoury, unpalatable, sickening, nauseating, nauseous, noxious
informal ghastly, horrible, horrid
British informal beastly
archaic disgustful, loathly
rare exceptionable, rebarbative
noun
A person considered to be objectionable in some way: how could she go around with such undesirables?...
- Shrubs have been cut back to deprive undesirables of hiding places, the first of several vandal-proof benches have been installed, and there are moves to make the lavatories accessible only from the street.
- This type of establishment could only attract even more undesirables into the area.
- I was swanning around a coffee shop in the mall the other day with good friends Simon and Bradley, sipping lattes and commenting derogatorily on the undesirables that were filing past.
Derivatives
undesirability
- Supporters hope that as consumers avoid the most restrictive technologies, the broader points about the undesirability of limiting digital media use will be made.
- In order to understand the statements they make, for example about the undesirability of consuming much ‘saturated’ fat, it is necessary to consider the chemical nature of fat and the various ways in which fats can be classified.
- Even the flirtiest girls sensed his undesirability, as though all at once his clothes were jive: T-shirt too white, pants too pressed, sneakers laced all wrong.
undesirableness
- First, it dilutes the color of undesirable liquids making their undesirableness less apparent at first glance.
- The new musician enthusiastically practices the instrument at home unaware of the undesirableness of the squeaking.
- Although deeply appreciating the undesirableness of following one whose scholarship is only surpassed by his genius, I found myself unable to refuse.
undesirably
/ adverb ...- I can't even bring myself to wear earrings (even though I had my ears pierced when I was 18) because I can't get over the feeling that putting holes in yourself to hang decorations off is undesirably primitive.
- That said, we believe that non-executive directors should not participate in share option schemes as this may undesirably compromise their independence.
- Medical practice shows undesirably large variations attributable to a chronic shortage of staff and inadequate training and information.