unflattering
adjective
un·flat·ter·ing ˌən-ˈfla-tə-riŋ 
: not flattering
an unflattering portrait
especially : unfavorable
unflattering remarks
unflatteringly
ˌən-ˈfla-tə-riŋ-lē
adverb 
Example Sentences
She was wearing the most unflattering outfit.
Recent Examples on the Web Blonde and its flaws are already being diagnosed with a handful of compatible but unflattering descriptors (pretentious, misogynistic, masochistic, brutal). 
K. Austin Collins, Rolling Stone, 17 Sep. 2022 The last thing the Cardinals need after their unflattering 44-21 season-opening loss to the Kansas City Chiefs is any form of finger-pointing between the offense and the defense. Bob Mcmanaman, The Arizona Republic, 12 Sep. 2022 The painting was -- as many newspapers pointed out -- unflattering, the antithesis of Annigoni's dreamy 1950s portrait. Nick Glass, CNN, 10 Sep. 2022 There are many unflattering characteristics a person can have. Damon Young, Washington Post, 9 Sep. 2022 An unflattering form of history is well within reach for the 2022 Red Sox. Alex Speier, BostonGlobe.com, 8 Sep. 2022 In addition to Nigeria where there are now over 20 million out-of-school children, Ethiopia, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Sudan are in the unflattering top 10 with China, Indonesia, and Bangladesh. Alexander Onukwue, Quartz, 5 Sep. 2022 That includes the old and new indexes alike, so investors have a fuller picture that doesn’t hide unflattering past comparisons. Jason Zweig, WSJ, 19 Aug. 2022 Manager Terry Francona walked into the visitor’s clubhouse at Comerica Park on Tuesday to find hundreds of unflattering pictures of himself working out taped to the walls throughout the clubhouse. Paul Hoynes, cleveland, 9 Aug. 2022 See More
K. Austin Collins, Rolling Stone, 17 Sep. 2022 The last thing the Cardinals need after their unflattering 44-21 season-opening loss to the Kansas City Chiefs is any form of finger-pointing between the offense and the defense. Bob Mcmanaman, The Arizona Republic, 12 Sep. 2022 The painting was -- as many newspapers pointed out -- unflattering, the antithesis of Annigoni's dreamy 1950s portrait. Nick Glass, CNN, 10 Sep. 2022 There are many unflattering characteristics a person can have. Damon Young, Washington Post, 9 Sep. 2022 An unflattering form of history is well within reach for the 2022 Red Sox. Alex Speier, BostonGlobe.com, 8 Sep. 2022 In addition to Nigeria where there are now over 20 million out-of-school children, Ethiopia, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Sudan are in the unflattering top 10 with China, Indonesia, and Bangladesh. Alexander Onukwue, Quartz, 5 Sep. 2022 That includes the old and new indexes alike, so investors have a fuller picture that doesn’t hide unflattering past comparisons. Jason Zweig, WSJ, 19 Aug. 2022 Manager Terry Francona walked into the visitor’s clubhouse at Comerica Park on Tuesday to find hundreds of unflattering pictures of himself working out taped to the walls throughout the clubhouse. Paul Hoynes, cleveland, 9 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
1581, in the meaning defined above
unflatteringly
adverb
as in disdainfully
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- disdainfully
- scornfully
- unfavorably
- negatively
- disapprovingly
- adversely
- deploringly
- captiously
- hypercritically
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- positively
- favorably
- admiringly
- approvingly
- appreciatively
- lovingly
- respectfully
- complimentarily
- reverently
- worshipfully
- regardfully