undesirable

1 of 2

adjective

un·​de·​sir·​able ˌən-di-ˈzī-rə-bəl How to pronounce undesirable (audio)
: not desirable : unwanted
undesirable side effects
undesirability noun
undesirableness noun
undesirably adverb

undesirable

2 of 2

noun

: one that is undesirable

Examples of undesirable in a Sentence

Adjective The drug has some undesirable side effects. This may have undesirable consequences. Frankly, it's an undesirable and unpleasant job.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
This results in undesirable responses from enterprise systems—and the outputs produced by these generative AI solutions are critical for end users. Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 23 July 2025 Photo-illustration by Newsweek/Getty/Canva Buyers on Top The Austin housing market downturn does not mean that the city has now become undesirable for buyers—quite the opposite. Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 July 2025
Noun
But behind it, Davenport sees the lurking specter of eugenics, a discredited pseudoscience that proposed the enhancement of the collective gene pool by eliminating undesirables. Matthew Carey, Deadline, 15 July 2025 Because underground resistance fighters were considered enemies of the state by the communist Polish regime, Pilecki’s surviving family members were treated as undesirables. Paul Hockenos, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for undesirable

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1667, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1883, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of undesirable was in 1667

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Undesirable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/undesirable. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

undesirable

adjective
un·​de·​sir·​able
ˌən-di-ˈzī-rə-bəl
: not desirable : unwanted
undesirability
-ˌzī-rə-ˈbil-ət-ē
noun
undesirable noun
undesirableness
-ˈzī-rə-bəl-nəs
noun
undesirably
-blē
adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on undesirable

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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