unsavory
adjective
un·sa·vory
ˌən-ˈsā-və-rē 
-ˈsāv-rē
2
a
: unpleasant to taste or smell
b
: disagreeable, distasteful
an unsavory assignment
especially
: morally offensive
unsavory business practices
Examples of unsavory in a Sentence
He is an unsavory character.
an unsavory blend of spices that simply overwhelmed the fish's delicate flavor
Recent Examples on the Web
The dinner, critics argued, compounded that risk by making the unsavory arrangement explicit: a large investment in return for an encounter with Trump.
—
Joel Khalili, Wired News, 23 May 2025
In the end, modern pressures, such as the cost of transporting horses, an unsavory incident at the Tokyo Olympics where a coach allegedly punched a horse, and the need to draw a wider TV audience combined to force UPIM’s hand.
—Blythe Lawrence, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025
Santos made the grave error of not just lying about his background to voters — which while unethical and unsavory is not a crime — but embezzling donor funds for personal expenses and lying to Congress, among other things, which are chargeable offenses that have now resulted in his conviction.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 27 Apr. 2025
This scenario can lead to various unsavory results, including inconsistent performance and inefficiencies in operations.
—Chay Lapin, Forbes.com, 16 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for unsavory
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Joel Khalili, Wired News, 23 May 2025
In the end, modern pressures, such as the cost of transporting horses, an unsavory incident at the Tokyo Olympics where a coach allegedly punched a horse, and the need to draw a wider TV audience combined to force UPIM’s hand.
—Blythe Lawrence, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025
Santos made the grave error of not just lying about his background to voters — which while unethical and unsavory is not a crime — but embezzling donor funds for personal expenses and lying to Congress, among other things, which are chargeable offenses that have now resulted in his conviction.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 27 Apr. 2025
This scenario can lead to various unsavory results, including inconsistent performance and inefficiencies in operations.
—Chay Lapin, Forbes.com, 16 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for unsavory
Cite this Entry
“Unsavory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unsavory. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
unsavory
adjective
un·sa·vory
ˌən-ˈsāv(-ə)-rē
ˈən-
1
: having little or no taste
2
: having a bad taste or smell
3
: morally bad
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