unpleasing

U1N1P3L1E1A1S1I1N1G2
UK/ʌnˈpliːzɪŋ/

adjective

Not pleasing; unpleasant.

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RareScrabble 13

Meanings

adjectiveunpleasing (comparative more unpleasing, superlative most unpleasing)

comparative more unpleasing · superlative most unpleasing

  1. Not pleasing; unpleasant.

    This looked peculiar at first, but not unpleasing when one gets used to it.

    1950 December, H. C. Casserley, “Locomotive Cavalcade, 1920-1950—6”, in Railway Magazine, page 843
    3 more examples

    It is, it is: hie hence, be gone, away! It is the lark that sings so out of tune, Straining harsh discords and unpleasing sharps.

    c. 1591–1595 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Romeo and Ivliet”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene v]

    ‘[…] Be assured, my dear, that these were the harshest words, and to me the most unpleasing that ever escaped your lips!’

    1766, [Oliver Goldsmith], chapter 13, in The Vicar of Wakefield: […], volume (please specify |volume=I or II), Salisbury, Wiltshire: […] B. Collins, for F[rancis] Newbery, […], →OCLC

    Zander took out a silk handkerchief and vented some unpleasing odour from his mouth.

    2000, J. G. Ballard, Super-Cannes, Fourth Estate, published 2011, page 86

Synonyms & antonyms

adjectiveunpleasant or disagreeable to the senses

Similar

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Middle Englishun-plesyng
  2. Englishunpleasing

From Middle English un-plesyng, equivalent to un- + pleasing.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

unpleasing. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/unpleasing

MLA

“unpleasing.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/unpleasing. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “unpleasing,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/unpleasing.

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