unsavoury
/' n'seiv ri/
Definition
- Adjective:
- Not pleasing in odor or taste: Describes something that has an unpleasant smell or flavor.
- Morally offensive or unpleasant: Describes something that is socially or ethically disagreeable, distasteful, or disreputable.
Usage
- The adjective "unsavoury" is used to describe both physical sensations (like taste or smell) and abstract concepts (like reputations or activities). It is the British English spelling; the American English spelling is "unsavory."
- It is typically used attributively (before a noun) or predicatively (after a linking verb like "be" or "seem").
Examples
- Describing physical taste/smell:
- The meat had been left out too long and gave off an unsavoury odour.
- The soup was cold and had an unsavoury, greasy texture.
- Describing moral/social offensiveness:
- The journalist was investigating the unsavoury dealings of the corrupt official.
- He was involved with some rather unsavoury characters from the city's underworld.
Advanced Usage
- "an unsavoury reputation": A reputation for being involved in dishonest, immoral, or unpleasant activities.
- The company has an unsavoury reputation for exploiting its workers.
- "an unsavoury truth": A fact or reality that is unpleasant or difficult to accept.
- The documentary forced the public to confront some unsavoury truths about their history.
Variants and Related Words
- Unsavory (adj): The American English spelling of "unsavoury."
- Unsavouriness / Unsavoriness (n): The quality or state of being unsavoury.
- The unsavouriness of the scandal shocked the community.
Synonyms
- Disagreeable: Unpleasant or offensive.
- Distasteful: Causing dislike or disgust.
- Unpalatable: Not pleasant to taste or, metaphorically, to accept.
- Sordid: Involving immoral or dishonorable actions and motives.
- Seedy: Appearing dirty, disreputable, or of low moral character.
Antonyms
- Savory / Savoury: Pleasant or agreeable in taste or, by extension, morally respectable.
- Appetizing: Appealing to the appetite.
- Reputable: Having a good reputation.
- Wholesome: Conducive to or suggestive of good health and physical well-being; morally beneficial.
Idioms and Phrases
- "unsavoury business": An affair or situation that is morally questionable or unpleasant.
- The whole political lobbying operation was seen as an unsavoury business.
- "unsavoury details": Specific facts about a situation that are particularly unpleasant or offensive.
- The report spared the public the most unsavoury details of the crime.
Adjective
-
not pleasing in odor or taste
-
morally offensive
-
an unsavory reputation
-
an unsavory scandal
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