Unsavory — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /ˌən-ˈsā-və-rē/ un·sa·vory

Meaning & Definition of Unsavory

Unsavory (adjective)

  1. insipid, tasteless
  2. unpleasant to taste or smell
  3. disagreeable, distasteful; especially, morally offensive

Unsavory (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. disagreeable or disgusting to the sense of taste

    "an unsavory blend of spices that simply overwhelmed the fish's delicate flavor"

    similar: brackish, distasteful, unappetizing, unpalatable, yucky
    related: abominable, awful, bad, filthy, foul, horrible, loathsome, nasty, nauseating, noisome, obnoxious, offensive, repellent, repugnant, repulsive, revolting, shocking, sickening, bland, flat, flavorless, insipid, savorless, tasteless
    opposite: appetizing, delectable, delicious, delish, palatable, savory, tasty, toothsome, yummy
    near: appealing, attractive, flavorful, piquant, rich

  2. not conforming to a high moral standard; morally unacceptable

    "unsavory doings that ruined the couple's good name in the community"

    similar: bad, dark, evil, immoral, iniquitous, nefarious, rotten, sinful, unethical, unlawful, unrighteous, vicious, vile, villainous, wicked, wrong
    related: base, contemptible, despicable, dirty, disreputable, evil-minded, ignoble, ill, infernal, low, mean, snide, sordid, atrocious, cruel, infamous, nasty, blamable, blameworthy, censurable, objectionable, obscene, offensive, reprehensible, corrupt, debased, debauched, degenerate, depraved, dissolute, libertine, loose, low-minded, perverted, reprobate, scrofulous, sick, unhealthy, cursed, cussed, defiling, noxious, pernicious, pestilential, ugly, ungodly, unwholesome, banned, barred, condemned, discouraged, forbidden, illegal, interdicted, outlawed, prohibited, proscribed, unauthorized, unclean, disallowed, execrable, lousy, miserable, wretched, errant, erring, fallen, unprincipled, unscrupulous, improper, incorrect, indecent, indecorous, naughty, unbecoming, unseemly, vulgar, dishonest, dishonorable
    opposite: decent, ethical, good, honest, honorable, just, moral, right, righteous, sublime, upright, virtuous
    near: elevated, high, high-minded, law-abiding, legitimate, lofty, noble, principled, reputable, scrupulous, allowed, authorized, legal, licensed, permissible, permitted, approved, endorsed, sanctioned, abetted, encouraged, promoted, supported, clean, correct, decent, decorous, exemplary, proper, seemly, blameless, commendable, creditable, guiltless, chaste, immaculate, incorruptible, innocent, inoffensive, irreproachable, lily-white, perfect, pure, spotless, squeaky-clean, uncorrupted, unerring, unfallen, unobjectionable, venerable, white, wholesome, esteemed, respected, upstanding, worthy

  3. not giving pleasure to the mind or senses

    "hated the whole unsavory business of firing people"

    similar: bad, bitter, disagreeable, displeasing, distasteful, harsh, icky, nasty, rotten, sour, uncongenial, unlovely, unpalatable, unpleasant, unpleasing, unwelcome, wicked, yucky
    related: abhorrent, abominable, appalling, awful, beastly, bilious, disgusting, dreadful, foul, ghastly, gnarly (slang), god-awful, gross, hateful, hellish, hideous, horrendous, horrible, horrid, invidious, loathsome, nauseating, nauseous, noisome, obnoxious, obscene, odious, offensive, repellent, repugnant, repulsive, revolting, revulsive, scandalous, seamy, shocking, sick, sickening, ugly, unholy, vile, villainous, aggravating, annoying, galling, irritating, vexing, crappy (slang), cruddy, crummy, lousy, miserable, sucky (slang), wretched
    opposite: agreeable, congenial, good, grateful, gratifying, nice, palatable, pleasant, pleasing, pleasurable, satisfying, welcome
    near: delectable, delicious, delightful, dreamy, felicitous, amiable, charming, cheery, friendly, jolly, kindly, sweet

  4. lacking in taste or flavor

    "the unsavory food dished up at the rest area's restaurant should be consumed only by the truly desperate"

    similar: dead, flat, flavorless, insipid, savorless, tasteless
    related: bland, dilute, thin, watery, weak, plain, unflavored
    opposite: flavorful, flavorsome, sapid, savory, tasteful, tasty
    near: disgusting, distasteful, loathsome, sickening, unappetizing, unpalatable, cloying, mawkish, appetizing, delectable, delicious, palatable, toothsome, keen, piquant, seasoned, spicy, flavored, heavy, rich

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Unsavory

The most common words with a similar meaning to Unsavory:

brackish, distasteful, unappetizing, unpalatable, yucky, bad, dark, evil, immoral, iniquitous, nefarious, rotten, sinful, unethical, unlawful, unrighteous, vicious, vile, villainous, wicked, wrong, bitter, disagreeable, displeasing, harsh, icky, nasty, sour, uncongenial, unlovely, unpleasant, unpleasing, unwelcome, dead, flat, flavorless, insipid, savorless, tasteless

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Unsavory

Words with the opposite meaning of Unsavory:

appetizing, delectable, delicious, delish, palatable, savory, tasty, toothsome, yummy, decent, ethical, good, honest, honorable, just, moral, right, righteous, sublime, upright, virtuous, agreeable, congenial, grateful, gratifying, nice, pleasant, pleasing, pleasurable, satisfying

Related Words for Unsavory

abominable, awful, filthy, foul, horrible, loathsome, nauseating, noisome, obnoxious, offensive, repellent, repugnant, repulsive, revolting, shocking, sickening, bland, base, contemptible, despicable, dirty, disreputable, evil-minded, ignoble, ill, infernal, low, mean, snide, sordid

Near Antonyms of Unsavory

appealing, attractive, piquant, rich, elevated, high, high-minded, law-abiding, legitimate, lofty, noble, principled, reputable, scrupulous, allowed, authorized, legal, licensed, permissible, permitted, approved, endorsed, sanctioned, abetted, encouraged, promoted, supported, clean, correct, decorous

Origin & Etymology of Unsavory

First known use: 13th century

Frequently Asked Questions about Unsavory

What does "Unsavory" mean?

"Unsavory" means insipid, tasteless. As an adjective, it is defined as: insipid, tasteless. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Unsavory"?

Other words for "Unsavory" include brackish, distasteful, unappetizing, unpalatable, yucky, bad, dark and evil. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Unsavory" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Unsavory"?

There are 170 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Unsavory". Common alternatives include brackish, distasteful, unappetizing, unpalatable, yucky, bad, dark, evil, immoral and iniquitous.

What is the opposite of "Unsavory"?

Antonyms of "Unsavory" include appetizing, delectable, delicious, delish, palatable, savory, tasty and toothsome. Near antonyms include appealing, attractive, piquant and rich.

How do you use "Unsavory" in a sentence?

Examples of "Unsavory" in a sentence: "an unsavory blend of spices that simply overwhelmed the fish's delicate flavor"; "unsavory doings that ruined the couple's good name in the community"; "hated the whole unsavory business of firing people".

Is "Unsavory" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Unsavory" is an adjective.

How do you pronounce "Unsavory"?

"Unsavory" is pronounced /ˌən-ˈsā-və-rē/ and divided into syllables as un·sa·vory.

What is the origin of the word "Unsavory"?

First known use: 13th century.