unimaginative

un·i·ma·gi·na·tive
U1N1I1M3A1G2I1N1A1T1I1V4E1
British, Southern, Standard/ˌʌnɪˈmad͡ʒɪnətɪv/

adjective

Not imaginative.

Opposite
UncommonScrabble 19

Meanings

adjectiveunimaginative (comparative more unimaginative, superlative most unimaginative)

comparative more unimaginative · superlative most unimaginative

  1. Not imaginative.

    For the first ten years of nationalisation a further note of overall gloom was added by the depressing policy of unimaginative Regional colour schemes, indifferently applied.

    1962 October, Brian Haresnape, “Focus on B.R. passenger stations”, in Modern Railways, page 251
    2 more examples

    Lighting was unimaginative for the standard stock with naked tungsten filament bulbs and metal reflectors. However, all compartments had individual reading lights above the seats with attractive glass shades.

    1979 August, Graham Burtenshaw, Michael S. Welch, “O.V.S. Bulleid's SR loco-hauled coaches - 1”, in Railway World, page 398

    His views were echoed by The Economist, which feared that the effects of modernisation would be no more than "chromium-plated" inefficiency caused by unimaginative railway management and adverse union reaction.

    2023 March 8, David Clough, “The long road that led to Beeching”, in RAIL, number 978, page 43

    Synonyms: uncreative, uninventive, uninspired, unoriginal, linear · Antonyms: imaginative

Synonyms & antonyms

adjectiveNot imaginative.

Opposite

More synonyms by meaning

adjectivedeficient in originality or creativity; lacking powers of invention

adjectivedealing only with concrete facts

Similar

adjectivelacking spontaneity or originality or individuality

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*né
  2. Proto-Indo-European*n̥-
  3. Proto-Germanic*un-
  4. Proto-West Germanic*un-
  5. Old Englishun-
  6. Middle Englishun-
  7. Englishun-
  8. Englishimaginative
  9. Englishunimaginative

From un- + imaginative.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Finnish mielikuvitukseton, käsittämätön
  • mielikuvituksetonnot imaginative
  • käsittämätönnot imaginative
Greek ανευφάνταστος
  • ανευφάνταστος (aneffántastos)not imaginative
Swedish fantasilös
  • fantasilösnot imaginative
Cite this entry
APA

unimaginative. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/unimaginative

MLA

“unimaginative.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/unimaginative. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “unimaginative,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/unimaginative.

Source: unimaginative on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.