1
as in icy
lacking in friendliness or warmth of feeling
the unfriendly looks quickly warmed when we were recognized as long-unseen relatives
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in hostile
marked by opposition or ill will
an unfriendly nation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in negative
opposed to one's interests
the claim that the state's numerous regulations create a climate unfriendly to small businesses
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unfriendly
When interviewing people that knew Lee and Elaine, our unnamed narrator comes across men complaining about Elaine always being drunk or Lee being unfriendly.
—
Literary Hub, 17 Mar. 2026
Whitney has been complaining to Conner that Jen has been weirdly unfriendly at the Dancing With the Stars studio.
—Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 14 Mar. 2026
Vintage dub techno was grimy, barnacle-encrusted, and often user-unfriendly.
—Daniel Bromfield, Pitchfork, 13 Mar. 2026
For every place that greets visitors with warmth and joy, there are others where the welcome is cooler, guarded, or even downright unfriendly.
—David Dickstein, Oc Register, 11 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unfriendly
Literary Hub, 17 Mar. 2026
Whitney has been complaining to Conner that Jen has been weirdly unfriendly at the Dancing With the Stars studio.
—Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 14 Mar. 2026
Vintage dub techno was grimy, barnacle-encrusted, and often user-unfriendly.
—Daniel Bromfield, Pitchfork, 13 Mar. 2026
For every place that greets visitors with warmth and joy, there are others where the welcome is cooler, guarded, or even downright unfriendly.
—David Dickstein, Oc Register, 11 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unfriendly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unfriendly
Adjective
-
There could be as many as ~1017 icy, round objects in hydrostatic equilibrium in the Milky Way galaxy alone, most of which are likely not bound to a parent star at all.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
30 Apr. 2026
-
What Happens in Your Brain During Ice Bath The instant icy water hits your skin, your brain’s stress system flips on.—
Samantha Agate,
Miami Herald,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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These Knicks still need to close the Hawks out in hostile territory in Game 6.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
29 Apr. 2026
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Extreme recovery conditions The Asse II mine presents a uniquely hostile environment.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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According to Newsweek, the overall score was composed of 80% from survey results, and 20% from social listening analysis, which analyzed media coverage and online discussion to assess whether public sentiment was positive, neutral or negative.—
Finch Walker,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
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The contest aims to challenge negative stereotypes of seagulls, which are often seen as a nuisance, by imitating them, per local network WTV.—
Adam England,
PEOPLE,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Amanda Lee Myers is a senior crime reporter who covers the death penalty, cold case investigations and breaking news for USA TODAY.—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
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In Milan, Pietrantoni had just worked with a design studio on an installation with cold lighting, which was drawing interested crowds.—
Adriane Quinlan,
Curbed,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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If the resolution is unfavorable to the community groups — who are also backed by the Black Political Caucus of Charlotte-Mecklenburg — that frustration will fall back on somebody, Bokhari said.—
Nick Sullivan,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Apr. 2026
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With race and ethnicity always a factor in Chicago politics, white respondents had the most unfavorable view of the city’s Black mayor, at 54%, while 27% of white respondents viewed Johnson favorably.—
Rick Pearson,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The findings indicate that 3I/ATLAS, just the third interstellar object discovered passing through the solar system, formed in a much more frigid region of space compared to our planetary backyard.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
23 Apr. 2026
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The water is frigid during the spring, but visitors can still relax on the shoreline and play in the sand at Napatree Point, Watch Hill Beach and East Beach, which boasts views of the easternmost end of New York’s Long Island.—
Catherine Garcia,
TheWeek,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Additionally, there were no serious adverse effects reported.—
Stephanie Pappas,
Scientific American,
24 Apr. 2026
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There were no concerns over safety or adverse events.—
Beth Mole,
ArsTechnica,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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If the morning is chilly, there’s breakfast in the orangery beneath the Roberto Ruspoli mural, beside a crackling fire.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Showers will be most numerous in coverage Saturday afternoon into Saturday night as temperatures fall into the 50s with a chilly easterly wind.—
Steven Sosna,
CBS News,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unfriendly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unfriendly. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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