unflattering

adjective

un·​flat·​ter·​ing ˌən-ˈfla-tə-riŋ How to pronounce unflattering (audio)
: not flattering
an unflattering portrait
especially : unfavorable
unflattering remarks
unflatteringly adverb

Examples of unflattering in a Sentence

She was wearing the most unflattering outfit.
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.
At the same time, several unflattering narratives about Lively started to spread on social media. Mary Whitfill Roeloffs, Forbes, 17 Jan. 2025 The reasons why typically rest on the unflattering look of it all: Brutalism is thought to be an eyesore, a relic of a different era far removed from our own. Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 14 Jan. 2025 My brief tenure in Altadena was marked by an unflattering shift in personality. Mikey O'Connell, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Jan. 2025 This is mostly because the three-year lookback lands at the exact peak of the market preceding the 2022 bear market, a particularly unflattering start point. Michael Santoli, CNBC, 11 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for unflattering 

Word History

First Known Use

1581, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unflattering was in 1581

Dictionary Entries Near unflattering

Cite this Entry

“Unflattering.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unflattering. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.

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