If you describe something or someone as undesirable, you do not want them or you think they are harmful.
We have come to view sweating as an undesirable and socially unacceptable activity.
A large group of undesirable strangers crashed her party.
Synonyms: unwanted, unwelcome, disagreeable, objectionable More Synonyms of undesirable
2. countable noun
Undesirables are people who a particular government considers to be dangerous or a threat to society, and therefore wants to get rid of.
Police were on hand to prevent undesirables from entering.
undesirable in British English
(ˌʌndɪˈzaɪərəbəl)
adjective
1.
not desirable or pleasant; objectionable
noun
2.
a person or thing that is considered undesirable
Derived forms
undesirability (ˌundeˌsiraˈbility) or undesirableness (ˌundeˈsirableness)
noun
undesirably (ˌundeˈsirably)
adverb
undesirable in American English
(ˌʌndɪˈzaɪrəbəl)
adjective
1.
not desirable or pleasing; objectionable
noun
2.
an undesirable person
Derived forms
undesirability (ˌundeˌsiraˈbility)
noun
undesirably (ˌundeˈsirably)
adverb
Examples of 'undesirable' in a sentence
undesirable
Many of these places were once considered undesirable.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Any undesirable behaviours are attributed to poverty and alienation.
The Sun (2016)
Try not to use artificial heating on your hair for it has a very undesirable drying effect.
Guyton, Anita The Natural Beauty Book - cruelty-free cosmetics to make at home (1991)
Remind him how important he is to your business and express your concern about specific recent examples of undesirable behaviour.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
He made the case there that reductions in the frequency of undesirable behaviors using punishment were short-lived.
Pressley, Michael & McCormick, Christine Advanced Educational Psychology For Educators, Researchers and Policymakers, (1995)
The prospect of either will lead to vulnerable women failing to seek necessary medical care because it may put something undesirable on their medical record.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The literature on rationale effects provided a good deal of support for the general position that undesirable behaviors can often be suppressed without resorting to punishment.
Pressley, Michael & McCormick, Christine Advanced Educational Psychology For Educators, Researchers and Policymakers, (1995)
It's also easy to convince yourself that your ex will give up the undesirable behaviours that drove you apart in the first place.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
And the problem with torque when it's directed through the front wheels is that it tends to have undesirable effects on the steering.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
ONCE again Britain struggles to deport a dangerous undesirable.
The Sun (2013)
The former teacher was not charged with any crime in Thailand and was expelled from the country because he was regarded as an undesirable person.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
THE scandal of this country's failure to deport undesirable and dangerous people grows bigger and uglier day by day.
The Sun (2006)
Lack of awareness, knowledge, and skills are not excuses for undesirable health behavior.
McKenzie, James F. & Pinger, Robert R. An Introduction to Community Health (1995)
The bottom line is: praise the desirable behaviour and ignore behaviour that is undesirable and gets in the way of your daughter enjoying her food.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
We just have to be alert to, and take early action against, undesirable effects.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
First, Euro judges will no longer be able to stop us from deporting dangerous or undesirable foreigners.
The Sun (2016)
Tough regulations on animal experiments and research using human embryos and stem cells have a similar effect, suggesting that there is something undesirable about such work.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
One would prefer not to do it, but here you're balancing something undesirable against something of spectacular importance.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
But NICE says that this should not be done, lest they have an undesirable cumulative effect.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
In other languages
undesirable
British English: undesirable ADJECTIVE
If you describe something or someone as undesirable, you think they will have harmful effects.
Inflation is considered to be undesirable because of its adverse effects on income distribution.
American English: undesirable
Brazilian Portuguese: indesejável
Chinese: 不受欢迎的
European Spanish: indeseable
French: peu souhaitableN
German: unerwünscht
Italian: indesiderabile
Japanese: 望ましくない
Korean: 바람직하지 않은
European Portuguese: indesejável
Latin American Spanish: indeseable
Chinese translation of 'undesirable'
undesirable
(ʌndɪˈzaɪərəbl)
adj
[person, effects, behaviour]不良的 (bùliáng de)
it is undesirable that ... ... 令人不快 ( ... lìng rén bùkuài)
(adjective)
Definition
not desirable or pleasant
A large group of undesirable strangers crashed her party.
Synonyms
unwanted
The city plan would promote unwanted development in the suburbs.
unwelcome
This report will come as unwelcome news to the government.
disagreeable
a disagreeable odour
objectionable
an objectionable, stuck-up young woman
offensive
the offensive smell of manure
disliked
unacceptable
His rude behaviour was unacceptable.
dreaded
unpopular
I was unpopular in high school.
unsuitable
out of place
unattractive
distasteful
an extremely unpleasant and distasteful experience
unsavoury
The sport has long been associated with unsavoury characters.
obnoxious
The people at my table were so obnoxious, I had to leave.
repugnant
His actions were improper and repugnant.
unpleasing
unwished-for
for the birds (informal)
strictly for the birds (informal)
(to be) avoided
Opposites
welcome
,
acceptable
,
desirable
,
pleasing
,
appealing
,
popular
,
inviting
,
attractive
,
agreeable
Additional synonyms
in the sense of disagreeable
Definition
(of an incident or situation) unpleasant
a disagreeable odour
Synonyms
nasty,
offensive,
disgusting,
unpleasant,
distasteful,
horrid (informal),
repellent,
unsavoury,
obnoxious,
unpalatable,
displeasing,
repulsive,
objectionable,
repugnant,
uninviting,
yucky or yukky (slang),
yucko (Australian, slang)
in the sense of distasteful
Definition
unpleasant or offensive
an extremely unpleasant and distasteful experience
Synonyms
unpleasant,
offensive,
obscene,
undesirable,
unsavoury,
obnoxious,
unpalatable,
displeasing,
repulsive,
objectionable,
disagreeable,
repugnant,
loathsome,
abhorrent,
nauseous,
uninviting
in the sense of objectionable
Definition
offensive or unacceptable
an objectionable, stuck-up young woman
Synonyms
offensive,
annoying,
irritating,
unacceptable,
unpleasant,
rude,
intolerable,
undesirable,
distasteful,
obnoxious,
deplorable,
displeasing,
unseemly,
disagreeable,
repugnant,
abhorrent,
beyond the pale,
insufferable,
detestable,
discourteous,
uncivil,
unmannerly,
exceptionable,
dislikable or dislikeable
Synonyms of 'undesirable'
undesirable
Explore 'undesirable' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of obnoxious
Definition
extremely unpleasant
The people at my table were so obnoxious, I had to leave.
Synonyms
loathsome,
offensive,
nasty,
foul,
disgusting,
unpleasant,
revolting,
obscene,
sickening,
vile,
horrid (informal),
repellent,
repulsive,
objectionable,
disagreeable,
nauseating,
odious,
hateful,
repugnant,
reprehensible,
abhorrent,
abominable,
insufferable,
execrable,
detestable,
hateable,
dislikable or dislikeable,
yucky or yukky (slang),
yucko (Australian, slang)
in the sense of offensive
Definition
unpleasant or disgusting to the senses
the offensive smell of manure
Synonyms
disgusting,
gross,
nasty,
foul,
unpleasant,
revolting,
stinking,
sickening,
vile,
repellent,
unsavoury,
obnoxious,
unpalatable,
objectionable,
disagreeable,
nauseating,
odious,
repugnant,
loathsome,
abominable,
grotty (slang),
detestable,
noisome,
yucky or yukky (slang),
festy (Australian, slang),
yucko (Australian, slang)
in the sense of repugnant
Definition
offensive or disgusting
His actions were improper and repugnant.
Synonyms
distasteful,
offensive,
foul,
disgusting,
revolting,
sickening,
vile,
horrid (informal),
repellent,
obnoxious,
objectionable,
nauseating,
odious,
hateful,
loathsome,
abhorrent,
abominable,
yucky or yukky (slang),
yucko (Australian, slang)
in the sense of unacceptable
Definition
too bad to be accepted
His rude behaviour was unacceptable.
Synonyms
intolerable,
unsatisfactory,
unreasonable,
off (British, informal),
bad,
poor,
terrible (informal),
offensive,
not on (informal),
unpleasant,
inappropriate,
unwelcome,
unsuitable,
disgraceful,
undesirable,
improper,
distasteful,
out of order (informal),
obnoxious,
deplorable,
displeasing,
unseemly,
objectionable,
disagreeable,
a bit much (informal),
beyond the pale,
inadmissible,
insufferable,
a bit off (British, informal),
insupportable,
impermissible,
a bit thick (British, informal)
in the sense of unpopular
Definition
generally disliked or disapproved of
I was unpopular in high school.
Synonyms
disliked,
rejected,
unwanted,
avoided,
shunned,
unwelcome,
undesirable,
unattractive,
detested,
out of favour,
unloved,
out in the cold,
cold-shouldered,
not sought out,
sent to Coventry (British)
in the sense of unsavoury
Definition
objectionable or distasteful
The sport has long been associated with unsavoury characters.
Synonyms
unpleasant,
nasty,
obnoxious,
offensive,
revolting,
distasteful,
repellent,
repulsive,
objectionable,
repugnant
in the sense of unwelcome
Definition
unpleasant and unwanted
This report will come as unwelcome news to the government.