
unabashed | unabashed: adj. unashamed, unblushing, unembarrassed, brazen, blatant, bold, undaunted, unawed, undismayed, unconcerned: I couldn''t put up with his unabashed conceit for another moment.
unable | unable: adj. not able, powerless, unfit, unqualified, impotent: The company was unable to give guarantees about continuity of employment.
unabridged | unabridged: adj. 1 uncut, whole, full-length, entire, complete, intact, uncondensed, unshortened; unbowdlerized, unexpurgated: This is the original, unabridged edition, with nothing removed. 2 extensive, thorough, comprehensive, exhaustive, all-encompassing, (all-)inclusive: That word is too rare to be listed in anything but an unabridged dictionary.
unaccented | unaccented: adj. unstressed, unemphasized, unaccentuated, weak, Technical lenis: The first syllable of ''before'' is unaccented.
unacceptable | unacceptable: adj. unsatisfactory, objectionable, wrong, bad, improper, unallowable, undesirable, not de rigueur, distasteful, disagreeable, unsuitable, inappropriate, unpleasant, tasteless: Murder is generally regarded as an unacceptable way to relieve oneself of unwanted company.
unaccompanied | unaccompanied: adj. alone, solo, on (one''s) own, unescorted, unchaperoned, unattended, Music a cappella, Colloq stag: We went to the dance unaccompanied.
unaccountable | unaccountable: adj. 1 unexplained, inexplicable, unexplainable, mysterious, inscrutable, incomprehensible, unintelligible, strange, puzzling, baffling, peculiar, odd, bizarre, unfathomable: I found it unaccountable that anyone would arrive for an appointment four hours early. 2 not answerable, not responsible: How can you have a governmental committee that is unaccountable to anyone? 3 weird, unheard-of, extraordinary, unusual, unorthodox, uncanny: Sophie has unaccountable powers of perception.
unaccustomed | unaccustomed: adj. 1 unfamiliar, unusual, rare, unexpected, uncommon, unprecedented, unanticipated, curious, peculiar: They encountered unaccustomed hostility from local people. 2 unaccustomed to. unused to, inexperienced in or at, amateurish at, unpractised in or at, unfamiliar with, uninitiated in: Unaccustomed as I am to public speaking, I had better be brief.
unadorned | unadorned: adj. plain, simple, unembellished, undecorated, unornamented, stark, bare, austere: She prefers an unadorned style, without frills.
unaffected� | unaffected�: adj. genuine, real, sincere, natural, simple, plain, unpretentious, unassuming, ingenuous, unsophisticated, unstudied, honest, guileless, artless, unartificial, straightforward, unfeigned: He conveyed in simple unaffected language a clear impression of the nightmarish quality of that day.
unaffected� | unaffected�: adj. Usually, unaffected by. impervious (to), immune (to), untouched (by), unmoved (by), unresponsive (to), aloof (to or from), uninfluenced (by), unimpressed (by), remote (to or from), cool or cold (to), unconcerned (by), unstirred (by): The duchess remained totally unaffected by the children''s appeals for help.
unapproachable | unapproachable: adj. 1 distant, remote, aloof, reserved, standoffish, austere, withdrawn, unfriendly, forbidding, chilly, cool, cold, frigid: James seems unapproachable, but in fact he''s a very warm person. 2 inaccessible, remote, unreachable, out-of-the-way, out of reach, beyond reach: Her house is unapproachable except from the sea.
unarmed | unarmed: adj. unprotected, defenceless, weaponless: The army began shooting unarmed civilians.
unasked | unasked: adj. uninvited, unrequested, undemanded, unsolicited, unsought, unwanted, unprompted, gratuitous, unbidden, spontaneous, unwelcome, unasked for: I wish he would keep his unasked opinions to himself.
unattached | unattached: adj. 1 separate, unconnected, detached, independent, unaffiliated, self-governing, self-regulating, self-regulated, autonomous, self-reliant, self-sustaining, self-sustained: The committee was established as an unattached body, not associated with any organization. 2 single, unmarried, uncommitted, unengaged, on (one''s) own, unspoken for: I joined the club hoping to meet some unattached people.
unauthorized | unauthorized: adj. unsanctioned, unapproved, unofficial, unlawful, illegal, illicit, illegitimate: Unauthorized use of the company''s parking spaces is prohibited.
unavoidable | unavoidable: adj. inescapable, ineluctable, inevitable, irresistible, inexorable, sure, certain, fated, destined, predestined, determined, predetermined, unchangeable, unalterable, settled, fixed, definite: Punishment is an unavoidable consequence of getting caught for something you shouldn''t have done.
unaware | unaware: adj. ignorant, oblivious, unknowing, unsuspecting, unconscious, uninformed, unenlightened, incognizant, inobservant, insensible, heedless, unmindful, unsuspecting: She was totally unaware of the huge spider dangling directly over her.
unawares | unawares: adv. 1 unexpectedly, abruptly, by surprise, suddenly, off (one''s) guard: We caught the sentry unawares. 2 inadvertently, unconsciously, unintentionally, unknowingly, unwittingly, by mistake, mistakenly, by accident, accidentally, in an unguarded moment: She had betrayed her closest friend unawares.
unbalanced | unbalanced: adj. 1 uneven, asymmetric(al), unsymmetric(al), lopsided, unequal, overbalanced, unstable, wobbly, shaky, unsteady: That stack of chairs is unbalanced and could fall any minute. 2 mad, demented, certifiable, crazy, insane, eccentric, non compos mentis, touched (in the head), unstable, unhinged, deranged, disturbed, of unsound mind, out of (one''s) head, Colloq daffy, dizzy, Chiefly Brit daft, Slang nuts, batty, off (one''s) rocker, Chiefly Brit bonkers, US out of one''s gourd, loco: The boy is clearly unbalanced, but that doesn''t excuse his appalling behaviour.
unbearable | unbearable: adj. intolerable, unsupportable, unendurable, insufferable, unacceptable, too much: The pain in her side was almost unbearable.
unbeatable | unbeatable: adj. unsurpassable, undefeatable, excellent, unexcelled, incomparable, matchless, unrivalled, peerless, unparalleled, superlative, supreme: She''ll go far with such an unbeatable combination of looks and brains.
unbecoming | unbecoming: adj. 1 unsuited, unsuitable, inappropriate, ill-suited, unfitting, unfit, inapt, unapt, out of character, out of place: It is unbecoming to wear your mink coat to the Save the Animals fund-raising dinner. 2 indecorous, unseemly, indelicate, improper, ungentlemanly, unladylike, offensive, tasteless: Father said it was unbecoming for her to use such foul language.
unbelievable | unbelievable: adj. incredible, preposterous, inconceivable, unimaginable, mind-boggling, implausible, unthinkable: The amount of money they spend on clothes is unbelievable. He told an unbelievable tale about having been picked up by a flying saucer.
unbelieving | unbelieving: adj. incredulous, disbelieving, non-believing, doubting, mistrusting, distrusting, mistrustful, distrustful, suspicious, sceptical, unpersuaded, unconvinced: The unbelieving world thinks that the age of miracles is past.
uncertain | uncertain: adj. 1 unsure, indeterminate, unpredictable, undeterminable, unforeseeable, unascertainable, haphazard, chance, arbitrary, random, aleatory, serendipitous, hit-or-miss, casual: It is uncertain whether interest rates will rise again next month. 2 unsure, in or of two minds, vacillating, undecided, unclear, ambivalent, irresolute, indecisive, hesitant, hesitating, undetermined, shilly-shallying, Brit at a loose end, US at loose ends: Julia is uncertain about what to do next. 3 unsure, indeterminate, up in the air, indefinite, unpredictable, unresolved, unsettled, in the balance, conjectural, speculative, debatable, touch-and-go, unreliable, doubtful, dubious, questionable, vague, hazy: The future of the company is now uncertain. The results of the election are still uncertain. 4 variable, changeable, inconstant, unfixed, unsettled, irregular, fickle, erratic, fitful, unsteady, wavering, unreliable, sporadic, occasional; unmethodical, unsystematic: The pictures in the cave danced in the uncertain light of the torch. How can we make an appointment if your plans are so uncertain?
uncharted | uncharted: adj. unmapped, unknown, unexplored, undiscovered, unfamiliar, strange, virgin, trackless: For weeks he wandered lost in the uncharted jungle.
unchaste | unchaste: adj. impure, wanton, immoral, unvirtuous, promiscuous, immodest, Cyprian, debased, lecherous, lewd, lascivious: Her unchaste conduct was a topic of conversation throughout the school.
uncivilized | uncivilized: adj. 1 barbarous, savage, wild, uncultivated, barbarian, barbaric, crude, primitive, brutish: He was an uncivilized man living in uncivilized surroundings. 2 unrefined, uncultured, uncouth, loutish, coarse, uneducated, untutored, unpolished, churlish, boorish, philistine, provincial, rough, rude, unlearned, ill-mannered, incondite, unmannerly, unsophisticated, inelegant, gross, gauche: Anna''s father forbade her to go out with the uncivilized boors in the nearby town.
unconscionable | unconscionable: adj. 1 conscienceless, unscrupulous, amoral, unprincipled, immoral, unethical, evil, criminal, unjust, wicked, arrant: This unconscionable thief stole from his own mother. 2 excessive, extortionate, egregious, extreme, unwarranted, unreasonable, outrageous, inordinate, immoderate, exorbitant, indefensible, unpardonable, inexcusable, unforgivable: When I questioned the unconscionable size of his bill, the plumber explained that he charges extra for house calls.
unconscious | unconscious: adj. 1 insensible, out (cold), knocked out, senseless, numb, stunned, comatose, dead to the world, Colloq blacked-out: The patient was unconscious for hours. 2 Often, unconscious of. heedless (of or to), unheeding, unheedful (of), insensitive (to), mindless, unmindful (of), reflex, automatic, involuntary, unintentional, instinctive, subliminal, unthinking, unpremeditated, subconscious, unwitting; blind (to), unaware (of), oblivious (to or of), deaf (to): For Tim, scratching his head is an unconscious act. Tim is totally unconscious of how irritating his mannerisms are.
uncontrolled | uncontrolled: adj. unrestrained, ungoverned, unchecked, untrammelled, undisciplined, wild, unruly, boisterous, riotous, out of hand or of control, rampant, frenzied, frantic; going berserk, running amok or amuck: He hit his brother in a moment of uncontrolled anger.
under | under: prep. 1 beneath, below, underneath, covered by: What is under that blanket? The wreck lies a mile under the surface. 2 subordinate to, answerable to, inferior to, second to, secondary to, subservient to, below, beneath, underneath, junior to, directed or supervised or controlled by, under (the) control of, at the mercy of, at the beck and call of: The bashibazouks were under the sultan''s top officers. 3 included or comprised in or under, subsumed under: This should be under the heading, ''What is the Stupidest Thing you have done Today?'' Under which category is ''Software''? 4 under the aegis or protection or eye or guardianship or care of: The prince was trained under the grand vizier. 5 less than, lower than: I paid under �200 for my VCR. 6 under the influence. drunk, tipsy, high, impaired: The police charged him with driving while under the influence. --adv. 7 below, underneath, beneath: You looked on top of the bed, but have you looked under? 8 underwater, beneath the waves, down, out of sight: We watched helpless as he went under for the third time.
underclothes | underclothes: n. underclothing, underwear, undergarments, lingerie, Old-fashioned unmentionables, Colloq underthings, undies, Brit smalls, Old-fashioned Brit small-clothes, US skivvies: When a salesman she met on the train said he was in ladies'' underclothes, she moved to another carriage.
undercover | undercover: adj. secret, private, clandestine, confidential: He doesn''t look much like an undercover agent.
undercurrent | undercurrent: n. 1 undertow, cross-current, rip tide, rip (current), underflow: Caught in the undercurrent, he was carried out to sea. 2 undertone, subcurrent, trend, tendency, overtone, tenor, suggestion, murmur, implication, connotation, sense, feeling, aura, tinge, flavour, atmosphere, ambience or ambiance; vibrations, Colloq vibes: There is a sinister undercurrent of gloom about this place.
undercut | undercut: v. 1 undermine, excavate, hollow out, cut out or away, gouge out: If you undercut the roadway it will collapse. 2 underprice, undercharge, sacrifice, sell cheaply or at a loss, undersell: The supermarkets undercut prices and put the independent grocers out of business.
underdog | underdog: n. loser, scapegoat, victim; vanquished, defenceless; Colloq fall guy, little fellow or guy: It has always been our policy to fight for the underdog.
underestimate | underestimate: v. undervalue, underrate, discount, misjudge, miscalculate, misprize, minimize, depreciate, belittle, not do justice to, fail to appreciate, set (too) little store by, think (too) little of: No one should underestimate the physical and mental effort involved.
undergo | undergo: v. suffer, bear, endure, experience, live or go through, be subjected to, subject oneself to, sustain, submit to, weather, stand, withstand: The hotel has recently undergone extensive refurbishing.
underground | underground: adj. 1 subterranean, buried, below-ground, sunken, covered: They crept through the underground passage into the treasure room. 2 secret, clandestine, concealed, hidden, covert, undercover, surreptitious, stealthy, private: The secret service has a worldwide underground network of agents. 3 alternative, radical, experimental, avant-garde, nonconformist, revolutionary: Some underground newspapers that sprang up in the 1960s are still being published. --n. 4 tube, metro, underground railway, US subway: Two more stops on the underground and we''ll be there. 5 resistance, partisans or partizans, freedom fighters, (in France) Maquis, insurgents, seditionaries or seditionists, insurrectionists, guerrillas or guerillas, extremists, revolutionaries; fifth-columnists, fifth column, saboteurs, subversives: The underground helped the family to escape to England. The government blames the underground for the bombings.
undermine | undermine: v. 1 sap, drain, disable, weaken, debilitate, threaten, sabotage, subvert, damage, hurt, harm, impair, ruin, dash, wreck, spoil, Slang queer, bugger (up): He said that the entire campaign would be undermined if the events of January 17th were ever revealed. 2 See undercut, 1, above.
undersized | undersized: adj. under-size, little, short, small, petite, tiny, elfin, bantam, slight, mignon(ne); stunted, underdeveloped, runty, runtish, dwarfish, dwarfed, pygmy, squat; underweight, undeveloped: These cattle are a bit undersized for market.
understand | understand: v. 1 grasp, comprehend, see, perceive, discern, make out, get the drift or the hang of, appreciate, interpret, take cognizance of, recognize, be aware or conscious of, be conversant with, know, realize, conceive of, be aware (of), apprehend, penetrate, Colloq get (it), dig, catch on (to), tumble to, cotton on (to), Brit twig: I can understand what you are saying. I didn''t think you understood. 2 accept, agree, arrange, covenant, take: I understand the terms of the agreement. 3 interpret, take, read, gather from, construe, surmise from, assume from, infer from, view, see: As I understand the regulation, only residents may use the facilities. 4 hear (of), gather, get wind (of), take it, be told or informed or advised, have found out or learnt, Colloq hear tell: I understand that you''ve applied for another job. 5 sympathize or empathize (with), be in sympathy (with), show compassion (for), commiserate (with); accept, tolerate, allow, forgive: Surely your employer will understand your being late because of the funeral.
understanding | understanding: n. 1 agreement, contract, arrangement, bargain, covenant, concession, pact, compact, accord, treaty, concordat, entente, alliance, truce, armistice, reconciliation, settlement: They reached an understanding with respect to nuclear weapons. 2 discernment, sensitivity, sensitiveness, sympathy, empathy, perception, insight, good sense, intuition, enlightenment, percipience, sagacity, sageness, sapience, wisdom, Colloq savvy: Georgianna brings so much understanding to her treatment of the aged. 3 Usually, understanding of. comprehension or, awareness or grasp or control or idea or conception or knowledge or mastery (of), acquaintance or familiarity or intimacy or dexterity or skilfulness or deftness or adroitness or adeptness (with), competence or skill or expertness or know-how or proficiency or expertise (in), Colloq US fix (on), handle (on): I know no one with a better understanding of medieval Welsh. 4 reading, interpretation, opinion, judgement, estimation, notion, view, perception, apperception, apprehension: My understanding of what took place is at odds with yours. 5 intellect, intelligence, mind, brain, brainpower, sense, reason, reasoning power, wisdom, Colloq brains: I''m afraid that he lacks the understanding needed to cope with the subtleties of the situation.
understated | understated: adj. subtle, restrained, low-key, simple, basic, unembellished, unadorned: Alexandra was wearing an understated black dress with a string of pearls.
understood | understood: adj. accepted, agreed, arranged, given, covenanted, settled, conceded: It was understood that we would be dining together that night. The terms of the agreement are now fully understood.
understudy | understudy: n. 1 second, substitute, stand-in, alternate, backup, double, sub, reserve, US pinch-hitter: The understudy got her break one night when the star fell ill. --v. 2 substitute for, stand in for, back up, double for, second, replace, US pinch-hit for: He is understudying Hamlet as well playing the part of Laertes.
undertake | undertake: v. 1 assume, take on or upon (oneself), accept, take or assume or bear the responsibility for, enter upon, begin, start, set about, embark on, tackle, try, attempt: Gates might be undertaking a bit too much, considering his condition. 2 promise, covenant, agree, contract, pledge, vow, swear, warrant, guarantee, bargain, commit (oneself), stipulate, engage: Is it not true that you undertook to complete the work in six months?
undertaker | undertaker: n. mortician, funeral director: The body is available for viewing at the undertaker''s tonight.
undertaking | undertaking: n. 1 enterprise, affair, business, project, task, effort, venture, work, feat: The scope of the undertaking was far beyond her capacity. 2 doing, performing, performance, realization, achievement: Giles''s undertaking of the work makes me feel more confident. 3 promise, pledge, commitment, assurance, contract, agreement, vow, guarantee or guaranty, warranty: You gave an undertaking to complete the work by Friday.
underworld | underworld: n. 1 Usually, the underworld. organized crime, the syndicate, the Mafia, the mob, Cosa Nostra, criminals, the criminal element, Colloq gangland: Lorenzo was fast becoming a well-known figure in the underworld. 2 nether regions, abode of the dead, Hades, Hell, Avernus, Dis, Orcus, Facetious Egyptian underground: I think I prefer contemplating the Happy Hunting Ground of the American Indian to the underworlds of Christianity and classical Mediterranean culture.
underwrite | underwrite: v. 1 back (up), finance, support, invest in, subsidize, subvene, sponsor, uphold, approve, insure, guarantee, US subvene: The company has agreed to underwrite the development of your invention. 2 subscribe to, endorse or indorse, sign, countersign, consent to, agree to, confirm, accede to, sanction, ratify, approve, validate, Colloq OK or okay: The government underwrote the action one day, then denied knowledge of it the next.
undesirable | undesirable: n. 1 persona non grata, pariah, outcast, exile, reject, leper: The police had many requests to run the undesirables out of town. --adj. 2 unwanted, objectionable, offensive, unacceptable, obnoxious, unsavoury, unwelcome, disliked, distasteful, repugnant, unfit, unbecoming, unsuitable: The parks are filled with tramps, drug addicts, and other undesirable elements.
undeveloped | undeveloped: adj. embryonic, premature, immature, incipient, inchoate, potential, latent: His sense of beauty remained undeveloped till he visited Rome.
undiluted | undiluted: adj. pure, neat, straight, unmixed, uncut, unblended, unadulterated, unwatered, unalloyed: No ice, please - I like my whisky undiluted. How do you like the undiluted gall of the fellow walking in here uninvited!
undisciplined | undisciplined: adj. untrained, unschooled, unprepared, untutored, uneducated, untaught, unpractised, uncontrolled, disobedient, naughty, bad, wilful, wayward, unrestrained, erratic, unpredictable, unruly, wild: The sergeant has taken quite a few undisciplined recruits and knocked them into shape.
undisguised | undisguised: adj. open, out-and-out, unmistakable or unmistakeable, overt, unconcealed, unreserved, unrestrained, unfeigned, unpretended, obvious, evident, patent, clear, explicit, transparent, sincere, heartfelt, unalloyed, unmitigated: They regarded the traitor with undisguised contempt.
undisputed | undisputed: adj. unquestioned, unquestionable, beyond question, accepted, acknowledged, admitted, indisputable, indubitable, undoubted, certain, sure, unmistakable or unmistakeable, definite, explicit, clear, (self-)evident, obvious, uncontested, unchallenged, incontestable, irrefutable, incontrovertible, undeniable, conclusive: He proved once again that he is the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.
undistinguished | undistinguished: adj. ordinary, commonplace, common, everyday, run-of-the-mill, pedestrian, unexceptional, plain, homespun, simple, prosaic, unremarkable; mediocre, middling, indifferent, unexciting, unimpressive, unpretentious, Brit homely, Colloq so so, no great shakes, no big deal, nothing to write home about, nothing special or unusual or extraordinary: It was an undistinguished modern building near the roundabout.
undivided | undivided: adj. 1 whole, entire, unbroken, uncut, intact, unseparated, complete, unsplit: The family lands remained undivided for generations. 2 undiverted, whole, entire, devoted, concentrated, full, complete, exclusive, undistracted: You have my undivided attention.
undo | undo: v. 1 loosen, loose, open, unfasten, unhook, unlace, unzip, unsnap, unbutton, untie, unpin; unlock, unbolt: Help me undo my blouse. Don''t undo the gate - you''ll let the dogs out. 2 unwrap, uncover, open, untie, unbind: Why have you allowed the children to undo their Christmas presents a week early? 3 cancel, annul, rescind, nullify, void, declare null and void, reverse, invalidate: If one could undo things there would be no such thing as regret.
undoing | undoing: n. 1 ruin, ruination, destruction, devastation, defeat, downfall, overthrow, fall, collapse, descent, debasement, degradation, abasement, mortification, humiliation, shame, disgrace: It is not easy to identify the factors that brought about the demagogue''s undoing. 2 curse, misfortune, bane, affliction, trouble, blight: As the novelists would have it, a beautiful woman was his undoing.
undone� | undone�: adj. 1 ruined, lost, wrecked, crushed, destroyed, devastated, shattered, brought to ruin, defeated, prostrated, overcome: Brian was completely undone by that gold-digging heart-breaker he met in Caracas. If the headmaster finds out about the glue, we are undone! 2 open, loose, loosened, untied, unfastened, detached, unhooked, unlaced, unzipped, unsnapped, unbuttoned, unpinned, unstuck: Your shoelaces are undone. The knot came undone.
undone� | undone�: adj. unaccomplished, uncompleted, incomplete, unfinished, omitted, neglected, left (out), skipped, missed, passed over, forgotten, unattended to: From this list of chores, how many are still undone?
undoubtedly | undoubtedly: adv. indubitably, without (a) doubt, indisputably, unquestionably, beyond (a or the shadow of a) doubt, certainly, definitely, surely, assuredly, unmistakably or unmistakeably, explicitly, clearly, obviously, incontestably, irrefutably, incontrovertibly, undeniably: If they win, they will undoubtedly go to the pub to celebrate.
unduly | unduly: adv. 1 disproportionately, excessively, overly, unnecessarily, inordinately, unreasonably, irrationally, unjustifiably, improperly, inappropriately: He claimed that he was being unduly harassed by the police. 2 immoderately, lavishly, profusely, extravagantly: Don''t be unduly generous in tipping our waiter - he did spill the soup in your lap.
unearth | unearth: v. dig up, disinter, exhume; excavate, dredge up, mine, quarry, find, pull or root out, come across, discover, turn up, expose, uncover: The artefacts were unearthed at Boghazk�y, ancient Hattusas. They had unearthed some evidence that would put him away for years.
unearthly | unearthly: adj. 1 supernatural, unnatural, preternatural, unworldly, other-worldly, psychic(al), extramundane, extraterrestrial, extrasensory, supersensory, out-of-(the)-body, asomatous, incorporeal, sublime, celestial, astral: They speculated about what unearthly experiences space travel might lead to. 2 weird, bizarre, macabre, nightmarish, uncanny, eerie, strange, ghostly, spectral, unreal, Literary eldritch, Colloq spooky, creepy: An unearthly creature appeared in a mist before her. 3 strange, odd, peculiar, unusual, abnormal, absurd, out of the ordinary, extraordinary, outrageous; unheard-of, unreasonable, Colloq ungodly: The baby wakes up at the unearthly hour of three o''clock every morning.
uneducated | uneducated: adj. unschooled, untaught, uncultivated, unread, uncultured, illiterate, unlettered, ignorant, unenlightened: It is debatable whether the fault for being uneducated lies with the student, the teacher, or the system.
unemployed | unemployed: adj. out of work, jobless, idle, laid off, out of a job, out of work, unoccupied, inactive, Facetious resting, at liberty, at leisure, Brit redundant, Colloq Brit on the dole: He has been unemployed ever since he was made redundant.
unenthusiastic | unenthusiastic: adj. lukewarm, cool, cold, uninterested, indifferent, blas�, unresponsive, apathetic, unexcited, unimpressed: Bentley presented the new design, but the directors were unenthusiastic and turned it down.
unenviable | unenviable: adj. uncoveted, undesirable, unwished for, unattractive: He was given the unenviable task of informing the victim''s family.
unfamiliar | unfamiliar: adj. 1 new, novel, unknown, unconventional, unusual, different, uncommon, strange, odd, peculiar, bizarre: The man spoke in a tongue that was totally unfamiliar to me. 2 Usually, unfamiliar with. unacquainted with, unaccustomed to, inexperienced in or with, unused to, unconversant with, uninformed about, ignorant of, unpractised or unskilled in, unskilled at, uninitiated in, unversed in: The Americans were as unfamiliar with cricket as the Englishmen were with baseball.
unflattering | unflattering: adj. 1 harsh, unsympathetic; realistic, stark, candid: Her hairstyle was unflattering and made her face look rather heavy. 2 uncomplimentary, insulting, unfavourable: Saying that I look just like my grandmother is quite unflattering.
unfledged | unfledged: adj. undeveloped, immature, unmatured, inexperienced, green, callow, young, raw, ungrown: Take these unfledged recruits and turn them into men.
unfold | unfold: v. 1 open (out or up), spread (out), unfurl, stretch out, expand, uncoil, unwind, straighten out: Emerging from the pupa, it unfolds its wings and becomes a beautiful butterfly. 2 develop, evolve, happen, take place, occur, be divulged, be disclosed or revealed: What will unfold next in our little drama?
unforeseen | unforeseen: adj. unexpected, surprising, unanticipated, unpredicted, unlooked-for, unsought, unhoped for, undreamed of or undreamt of, unthought of, startling, surprise, chance, fortuitous: The sales manager''s resignation was an unforeseen event.
unfortunate | unfortunate: adj. 1 unlucky, luckless; cursed, out of luck, unblessed, Colloq down on (one''s) luck: She was unfortunate enough to have married early and divorced late. 2 poor, miserable, wretched, woebegone, pathetic, dismal, unhappy, forlorn, pitiable, doomed, ill-starred, star-crossed, ill-fated: These unfortunate refugees have nowhere to go if we refuse them asylum. 3 deplorable, terrible, awful, catastrophic, disastrous, calamitous, tragic, lamentable, regrettable, distressing, upsetting, disturbing, inauspicious, grievous, ruinous: It was an unfortunate decision, and led to many problems. The flood was a most unfortunate sequel to the earthquake.
unfounded | unfounded: adj. baseless, groundless, unwarranted, unjustified, unsupported, unsupportable, unsound, unjustifiable, unattested, unproven: Reports of a typhoid outbreak are completely unfounded.
ungodly | ungodly: adj. 1 wicked, sinful, impious, blasphemous, heretical, irreligious, iconoclastic, atheist(ic), anti-religious, sacrilegious, demonic, demoniac(al), diabolic(al), satanic, fiendish, hellish, infernal; depraved, godless, corrupt, immoral, evil, iniquitous, bad, villainous, heinous, flagitious, profane, vile: The crusaders believed that they had a duty to deliver Jerusalem from the ungodly heathens. 2 awful, outrageous, indecent, monstrous, nasty, dreadful, terrible, appalling, frightful, shocking, Colloq God-awful, unearthly, Brit beastly: Margot and I were subjected to another ungodly evening at the Dawsons''.
ungovernable | ungovernable: adj. unruly, refractory, intractable, unmanageable, uncontrollable, rebellious, wild, disobedient, unrestrainable, incorrigible: The nursemaid was saddled with two ungovernable children whom she had to cosset.
ungraceful | ungraceful: adj. 1 awkward, clumsy, ungainly, lubberly, Colloq all thumbs, butter-fingered, Slang US and Canadian klutzy: People in the aerobics class are always ungraceful to start off with. 2 inelegant, graceless, coarse, crude, inartistic, vulgar, tasteless, unaesthetic, unrefined, barbarous, unlovely, ugly, unharmonious, unattractive, ill-proportioned, unsymmetric(al), asymmetric(al): Some regard the Albert Memorial as a paragon of ungraceful Victorian design.
ungracious | ungracious: adj. discourteous, overbearing, churlish, gauche, rude, uncivil, impolite, ill-bred, bad-mannered, unmannerly, ungentlemanly, unladylike, gruff, bluff, brusque, abrupt, surly, curmudgeonly: It was ungracious of him not to acknowledge the help of his staff.
ungrateful | ungrateful: adj. unthankful, unappreciative, rude; selfish, heedless: That ungrateful wretch never thanked me for all my help.
unguarded | unguarded: adj. 1 incautious, unwary, careless, inattentive, heedless, inobservant, inadvertent, unthinking, unwatchful, unvigilant: He let the intruder past him in an unguarded moment. 2 defenceless, unprotected, undefended, unfortified, open, uncovered, exposed, vulnerable: The sentry insisted that he had left his post unguarded for only a few minutes. 3 indiscreet, careless, imprudent, unwise, hasty, unthinking, thoughtless; guileless, incautious: He was anxious to restore good relations after his unguarded remarks about their associates.
unhappy | unhappy: adj. 1 sad, depressed, blue, dejected, melancholy, despondent, downcast, gloomy, downhearted, dispirited, heavy-hearted, long-faced, disconsolate, sorrowful, miserable, crestfallen, cheerless, forlorn, low-spirited, glum, distressed, tearful, Formal lachrymose, Colloq down, Slang US bummed out: Mary is very unhappy that John is to be away a whole month. 2 unlucky, unfortunate, unpropitious, inauspicious, unfavourable, luckless, hapless, cursed, wretched, ill-omened, ill-fated, ill-starred, star-crossed, jinxed, disastrous: Let me tell you how this unhappy state of affairs came about. 3 infelicitous, unfitting, inappropriate, unsuitable, unsuited, wrong, inexpedient, ill-advised, poor, unfortunate: Vivian was an unhappy choice as his successor.
unhealthy | unhealthy: adj. 1 ailing, unwell, ill, sickly, infirm, feeble, frail, debilitated, unsound, sick, in poor or delicate health or condition, indisposed, invalid, valetudinary: The boys had pasty, unhealthy faces. 2 unwholesome, harmful, noxious, detrimental, insalubrious, damaging, injurious, destructive, malign: The doctor said that this climate is unhealthy for people with respiratory disorders. 3 risky, dangerous, perilous, life-threatening, touch-and-go: You might find it unhealthy to criticize the government here.
unheard-of | unheard-of: adj. 1 unknown, unfamiliar, obscure, unidentified, nameless, unsung: She is busy trying to promote some unheard-of sculptor. 2 unimaginable, undreamed of or undreamt of, unprecedented, unimagined, unbelievable, inconceivable, unusual: They took the unheard-of step of requiring that refunds be paid. Her starting salary is an unheard-of �100,000. 3 shocking, offensive, outrageous, disgraceful, extreme, unthinkable, outlandish: The victims were subjected to unheard-of tortures.
unheralded | unheralded: adj. unannounced, unpublicized, unadvertised; unexpected, surprise, unanticipated, unforeseen, unpredicted: Published by some obscure company, the book turned out to be an unheralded success.
unhesitating | unhesitating: adj. 1 swift, rapid, quick, immediate, instantaneous, prompt, ready, unhesitant: The response was an unhesitating ''No!'' 2 unfaltering, unwavering, wholehearted, unqualified, unswerving, undeviating, staunch, steadfast, implicit, resolute: We appreciate your unhesitating devotion to duty.
unhurried | unhurried: adj. leisurely, unrushed, easy, easygoing, casual, gradual, deliberate, steady, sedate, calm: We proceeded at an unhurried pace, eventually arriving at dusk at the castle gates.
unidentified | unidentified: adj. nameless, anonymous, unknown, unmarked, unnamed, unknown, unfamiliar, unrecognized, mysterious: The police found the body of a unidentified woman in the park.
uniform | uniform: adj. 1 homogeneous, consistent, unvaried, unchanged, unaltered; unvarying, unchanging; invariable, unchangeable, unalterable, regimented, standard; ordered, orderly, equal, even, like, identical; alike: The mixture is uniform throughout. The rules are uniform for everyone. Line up in ten uniform rows of ten each. 2 even, unbroken, smooth, regular, flat: Not one irregularity marred the uniform surface of the plain. --n. 3 livery, habit, regalia, costume, outfit; regimentals: When I next saw him, he was in the uniform of a Gestapo officer.
uniformity | uniformity: n. 1 regularity, similarity, sameness, homogeneity, consistency, symmetry, evenness, invariability, unchangeability, similitude, conformity, agreement, concord, accord, harmoniousness; harmony, concordance, accordance, conformance, correspondence: One can easily see the lack of uniformity even in what is supposed to be a classless society. 2 dullness, monotony, drabness, sameness, tedium, featurelessness, flatness, invariability, lack of variety, changelessness: After a few days, the uniformity of the routine began to get on my nerves.
unify | unify: v. consolidate, unite, combine, amalgamate, coalesce, bring together, fuse, join, weld, merge, confederate, integrate: The separate elements were unified into a coherent whole. Successive Reform Bills unified the nation.
unimpeded | unimpeded: adj. unblocked, unchecked, free, unconstrained, unrestrained, unhindered, unhampered, unencumbered, open, untrammelled, unrestricted: They insist on having unimpeded access to the files.
unimposing | unimposing: adj. unimpressive, nugatory, trivial, trifling, minor, unimportant, puny, inconsiderable, negligible: It was an unimposing building sandwiched between two office blocks. A more unimposing little cockalorum has seldom assailed my sensibilities.
uninformed | uninformed: adj. ignorant, nescient, unknowledgeable, unenlightened, uneducated, unschooled, untutored, untaught, uninstructed, unaware, incognizant: The problem is not that they are stupid, merely uninformed and misinformed.
uninhabited | uninhabited: adj. desolate, empty, abandoned, deserted, unoccupied, vacant, vacated, tenantless, untenanted; desert, unpopulated, unpeopled, trackless, depopulated, waste, barren: Tristan da Cunha, in the south Atlantic, is an uninhabited island.
uninhibited | uninhibited: adj. wild, unchecked, unbridled, uncurbed, intemperate, boisterous, unrepressed, unconstrained, unrestrained, uncontrolled, unselfconscious, unreserved, relaxed, casual, easygoing, free (and easy), open, frank, candid, outspoken, Colloq upfront: Their behaviour at the party was totally uninhibited. I will tell you what I think only if I can be totally uninhibited about it.
uninviting | uninviting: adj. repulsive, repellent, offensive, unappealing, unattractive, unpleasant, disagreeable, distasteful, unappetizing, unsavoury, sickening, revolting, obnoxious, nasty, disgusting, Brit off-putting: The food he put on the table was cold and uninviting.
union | union: n. 1 uniting, unity, combining, combination, joining, junction, conjoining, conjunction, allying, alliance, associating, association, coalition, amalgamating, amalgamation, fusing, fusion, marrying, marriage, confederating, confederation, confederacy, synthesizing, synthesis, mixing, mixture, federation, togetherness: Monarchies favour the union of Church and State. 2 alliance, association, organization, society, circle, fraternity, club, fellowship, team, ring, gang, syndicate, coalition, party, confederation, confederacy, federation, Bund, league, consortium, bloc, cartel, trust: The countries formed a union to control their joint economies. 3 joint, seam, splice, junction, conjunction, graft, weld; coupling: The union between the two pieces may be stronger than the material itself. 4 agreement, accord, harmony, harmoniousness, congruity, coherence, compatibility, unanimity, unity: The union of the various elements in the painting was skilfully effected.
unique | unique: adj. 1 single, lone, (one and) only, solitary, one of a kind, sui generis: Natural forces conspired to create this unique situation. 2 unequalled, unparalleled, unrivalled, incomparable, inimitable, peerless, unmatched, unsurpassed, unexcelled, second to none: Stimble''s genius is unique in the annals of proctology.
unison | unison: n. in unison (with). in harmony, together, corresponding exactly, in (perfect) accord, consonant, harmonious: Why is his singing never in unison with ours? We all responded in unison with a rousing ''No!''
unit | unit: n. element, component, entity, part, item, constituent, piece, portion, segment, section, module: The units fit together like Lego blocks.
unite | unite: v. 1 combine, unify, merge, coalesce, amalgamate, mix, mingle, commingle, intermix, blend, consolidate, fuse: The splinter parties have united to form a coalition. 2 join (forces), unify, wed, marry, link, connect, merge: The two families are united by marriage. 3 bond, fuse or weld or solder or glue or stick or tie or bind or fasten or fix or fit (together): Unite these pieces and the job is done.
united | united: adj. 1 unified, common, mutual, combined, merged, coalesced, pooled, shared, collective, joint, amalgamated, connected: The new law will serve our united interests. 2 joint, cooperative, common, communal, collaborative, synergetic or synergistic, collective, concerted, coordinated, allied; partnership: We must make a united effort if we are to survive. 3 agreed, unanimous, in agreement, of one mind, of like mind or opinion, like-minded, in accord, in harmony, harmonious: We are united in our assessment of last night''s performance.
unity | unity: n. 1 consistency, unanimity, constancy, uniformity, sameness, consensus, agreement, concord, concordance, accord, solidarity, compatibility, concurrence, continuity, consentaneousness, rapport, sympathy, like-mindedness: All members of the association enjoy a unity of purpose. 2 oneness, singularity, integrity, singleness, congruity, uniformity, congruousness, homogeneity, identity, sameness, resemblance, likeness, similarity, similitude: If there is little unity between your ideas and those of the organization, perhaps you should resign. 3 unification, uniting, combination: In unity is strength.
universal | universal: adj. 1 prevalent, prevailing, general, worldwide, widespread, ubiquitous, omnipresent, limitless, unlimited, common, pandemic, epidemic: The end of the 20th century is marked by a universal preoccupation with greed. 2 cosmic, infinite, boundless, limitless, unlimited, measureless, endless, uncircumscribed, all-inclusive, all-embracing, all-encompassing, wide-ranging, comprehensive: Renaissance man was regarded as possessing universal knowledge.
universally | universally: adv. in every case or instance, in all cases or instances, unexceptionally, without exception, uniformly, always, invariably: In those days, it was universally accepted that the earth was flat.
universe | universe: n. 1 cosmos, creation, macrocosm: What arrogance makes man believe that in all the vast universe God pays him any heed? 2 world, bailiwick, sphere, province, domain, circle, milieu, territory, corner, quarter, microcosm: Such behaviour may be acceptable in her tiny universe.
unkempt | unkempt: adj. dishevelled, uncombed, tousled, disarranged, ungroomed, wind-blown, untidy, disordered, mussed (-up), messy, messed-up, bedraggled, shaggy, scruffy, rumpled, slovenly, frowzy, blowzy, Archaic draggle-tailed, Colloq sloppy: Mother would refuse to allow us to the table if we were unkempt.
unkind | unkind: adj. inconsiderate, unthoughtful, thoughtless, unfeeling, unconcerned, insensitive, unkindly, unsympathetic, uncharitable, unchristian, uncaring, hard-hearted, heartless, flinty, hard, rigid, callous, tough, inflexible, unyielding, unbending, severe, harsh, stern, cruel, mean, inhuman: It was very unkind of you to refuse the beggar.
unknown | unknown: adj. 1 unrecognized, unfamiliar, strange, unnamed, anonymous, nameless, unidentified; obscure, unheard-of, little-known, humble, undistinguished, unsung: Some unknown person left this package for you. Bill is in some unknown place for the weekend. An unknown poet won the competition. 2 unfamiliar, unexplored, uninvestigated, unresearched, unrevealed, mysterious, uncharted, unidentified, dark: We were now going into unknown territory. 3 unbeknownst, untold, unrevealed: Unknown to me, the thieves were at that moment breaking in through the kitchen window.
unlamented | unlamented: adj. unmissed, unmourned, unbemoaned, unbewailed, unloved: They destroyed a statue of the late, unlamented Joseph Stalin.
unlawful | unlawful: adj. illegal, illicit, against the law, illegitimate, under the table, under the counter, criminal, felonious; outlawed, banned, prohibited, forbidden, interdicted, disallowed, proscribed, verboten; unauthorized, unlicensed, unsanctioned: Unlawful payments had been made to councillors. Gambling has been declared unlawful in that county.
unlike | unlike: adj. 1 different (from), dissimilar (to), unalike, distinct (from), opposite (from or to), contrasting or contrastive (with or to), separate (from), divergent (from), incompatible (with), distinguishable (from), far apart (from), far (from), distant (from), ill-matched (with), unequal (to), unequivalent (to): His notions of right and wrong are unlike those of other people. Although they''re brothers, they look quite unlike each other. 2 atypical, uncharacteristic, untypical: It is unlike you to complain. --prep. 3 different from, differing from, in contradistinction to, in contrast with or to, dissimilar to, distinct from, opposite from or to, contrasting with or to, divergent from, incompatible with, distinguishable from, ill-matched with, unequal to, unequivalent to: Unlike you, I''ve been there and know what it''s like.
unlikely | unlikely: adj. 1 improbable, doubtful, dubious, remote, unthinkable, unimaginable, inconceivable, implausible: His story was unlikely, but she decided to believe him. It is not unlikely that he will come even if we ask him to stay away. 2 unseemly, inappropriate, unfit, unfitting, unsuitable, uncongenial, objectionable, unbecoming, unacceptable, unattractive, distasteful: Claire had seldom seen a more unlikely prospect for a husband. 3 unpropitious, unpromising, inauspicious: The tiny shop seemed an unlikely place to find a great treasure.
unlimited | unlimited: adj. 1 unrestricted, unrestrained, limitless, unconstrained, unqualified, full, absolute, unconditional, far-reaching, unchecked, uncontrolled: He has unlimited authority to issue all the paper money he wishes. 2 limitless, boundless, endless, vast, unbounded, immense, immeasurable, measureless, numberless, innumerable, inexhaustible, interminable, never-ending, infinite, myriad, extensive,: As the wealthiest woman in the world, she has unlimited resources to do as she pleases.
unload | unload: v. empty, dump, unpack, offload, discharge; disburden, unburden: We unloaded the cargo at Sulawesi. The camels must be unloaded every night.
unmarried | unmarried: adj. single, unwed(ded), bachelor, spinster, old-maid, maiden, unattached, unengaged, unbetrothed, unplighted, unpromised, free, uncommitted: He was thirty-five, unmarried, and lived alone in a tiny flat.
unmentionable | unmentionable: adj. 1 unspeakable, unutterable, ineffable, taboo, scandalous, forbidden, interdicted; inexpressible: I will not have Karen or her unmentionable boyfriend in this house again! 2 disgraceful, indecent, immodest, shameful, shocking, appalling, dishonourable, indescribable, obscene, filthy: In carnivals, geeks do unmentionable things with live chickens. --n. 3 unmentionables. underclothes, underclothing, underwear, undergarments, lingerie, Archaic small-clothes, Colloq underthings, undies, Brit smalls, US skivvies: The woman next door insists on hanging out her unmentionables in full view of the whole street.
unmerciful | unmerciful: adj. merciless, pitiless, unsparing, unkind, relentless, unpitying, heartless, stony-hearted, hard-hearted, flinty, unfeeling, unsympathetic, unforgiving, mean, cruel, savage, brutal, brutish, vicious, barbarous: The boys gave him an unmerciful beating for cheating.
unmitigated | unmitigated: adj. undiluted, unalloyed, unmixed, untempered, unmoderated, unmodified, unabated, unlessened, undiminished, unreduced, unrelieved, oppressive, unalleviated, unmollified, unsoftened, relentless, unqualified, out-and-out, thorough, thoroughgoing, outright, downright, categorical, absolute, immoderate, sheer, complete, consummate, total, perfect, true, pure, arrant, utter, plain: That man is an unmitigated bore. The project was an unmitigated disaster.
unmoved | unmoved: adj. cool, aloof, calm, collected, unaffected, untouched, unsympathetic, unstirred, undisturbed, apathetic, stoic(al), impassive, dispassionate, unemotional, unfeeling, unconcerned, indifferent, unreactive, unresponsive, stolid, stony, adamant, stony-hearted, hard-hearted: Despite her child''s tears, she remained totally unmoved.
unnatural | unnatural: adj. 1 Derogatory abnormal, perverse, perverted, monstrous, unusual, peculiar, strange, aberrant, improper, unseemly; Slang kinky , Chiefly Brit bent: There was a scandal when the senator was found to have engaged in some unnatural act. 2 sodomitic(al), bestial, tribadic, tribadistic: They still coyly referred to homosexual activities as ''unnatural acts''. 3 uncharacteristic, out of character, odd, peculiar, strange, unexpected, abnormal, unusual: Isn''t it unnatural for someone who has won the sweepstakes to look so unhappy? 4 laboured, forced, stilted, stiff, restrained, artificial, false, insincere, feigned, contrived, affected, mannered, self-conscious, theatrical, stagy: She has an irritating, unnatural laugh. 5 outlandish, weird, uncanny, strange, odd, unaccountable, supernatural, preternatural, queer, grotesque, bizarre, extraordinary, eccentric, freakish: Let me tell you about the unnatural events that took place in that house.
unnecessary | unnecessary: adj. unneeded, needless, unrequired, dispensable, disposable, expendable, unwanted, surplus, superfluous, supererogatory, inessential, unessential, non-essential: The children were asleep, so we asked the workmen to avoid making any unnecessary noise.
unnerve | unnerve: v. upset, agitate, perturb, ruffle, fluster, rattle, discomfit, unsettle, disconcert, dismay, intimidate, stun, stupefy, Colloq shake (up), faze: Peter drove home slowly: the accident he had seen had unnerved him.
unnoticed | unnoticed: adj. unnoted, overlooked, unobserved, undiscovered, unremarked, unmarked, unperceived; unseen, unheard: Fortunately, Martha''s nasty aside went unnoticed.
unobtrusive | unobtrusive: adj. inconspicuous, unostentatious, low-key, retiring, modest, self-effacing, unpresuming, unpretentious, unassuming, quiet, humble, unaggressive, unassertive, non-assertive, subdued, reserved, reticent, suppressed: Agatha may seem unobtrusive, but she''s a tigress when aroused.
unofficial | unofficial: adj. informal, unauthorized, undocumented, off the record, private, secret, unpublicized, unannounced: The builder acknowledged having had unofficial meetings with the council.
unopened | unopened: adj. closed, shut: The book lay, unopened, on the bedside table.
unorthodox | unorthodox: adj. irregular, unconventional, nonconformist, unconforming, nonconforming, aberrant, aberrational, deviant, heteroclite, unusual, abnormal, uncustomary, uncommon: Roebuck''s unorthodox methods almost lost him his job.
unpaid | unpaid: adj. 1 payable, outstanding, owed, owing, due, unsettled: In the end he absconded, leaving a pile of unpaid bills. 2 unsalaried, voluntary, volunteer, honorary, US dollar-a-year: On retirement, she took an unpaid job with Oxfam.
unpalatable | unpalatable: adj. distasteful, disagreeable, unpleasant, unsavoury, unappetizing, unattractive, repugnant, nasty, offensive; rancid, sour, off, turned, bitter, inedible, uneatable: Without an education, they are often offered the unpalatable jobs. We found heavy claret totally unpalatable with the sole.
unparalleled | unparalleled: adj. unequalled, incomparable, matchless, peerless, unrivalled, unmatched, inimitable, unexcelled, superior, supreme, superlative, unsurpassed, unusual, special, singular, rare, unique, exceptional, consummate: In our experience, the food and service aboard the Normandie were unparalleled.
unperfumed | unperfumed: adj. unscented, plain, natural: This deodorant is available in sandalwood, forest pine, mint, or unperfumed.
unpopular | unpopular: adj. out of favour, in bad odour, unliked, disliked, shunned, avoided, snubbed, ignored, unsought after, unaccepted, unwanted, rejected, unwelcome, undesirable; unloved, friendless: New taxes are always unpopular. James had always been an unpopular boy at school.
unprejudiced | unprejudiced: adj. unbigoted, unbiased, impartial, unjaundiced, just, fair, objective, disinterested, fair-minded, non-partisan, liberal, open-minded, undogmatic: An unprejudiced opinion would be difficult to find, since everyone has an axe to grind.
unpremeditated | unpremeditated: adj. unprepared, unplanned, unarranged, uncontrived, unstudied, coincidental, spontaneous, spur-of-the-moment, last-minute, impromptu, extemporaneous or extemporary, extempore, ad lib, offhand, casual, impulsive, natural, involuntary, automatic, unconscious, Colloq off the cuff: I had no inkling of her plans, so my running into her was entirely unpremeditated. Her immediate, unpremeditated reaction was to run away.
unprepared | unprepared: adj. 1 unready, surprised, taken aback, (caught) napping or off guard, dumbfounded or dumfounded, at sixes and sevens, Colloq (caught) with (one''s) pants down, Brit caught on the hop, US asleep at the switch: The sudden squall found us unprepared and we lost a sail. 2 unfinished, incomplete, uncompleted: Dinner was still unprepared at eight o''clock. 3 unwarned, unreadied, not set up, not forewarned: I was unprepared for the strange events that followed. 4 See unpremeditated, above.
unprofessional | unprofessional: adj. 1 unbecoming, improper, unethical, unprincipled, unseemly, undignified, unfitting, unbefitting, unworthy, unscholarly, negligent, lax: The Medical Association is quick to act against doctors whose conduct might be judged unprofessional. 2 amateurish, amateur, inexpert, inexperienced, untrained, untutored, unschooled, incompetent, unskilled, unskilful, inferior, second-rate, inefficient, poor, shoddy, low-quality, sloppy: It was an astonishingly unprofessional way to audit accounts. 3 non-technical, unspecialized, non-specialist, lay, everyday, ordinary, plain (English), understandable: What does all that gobbledegook mean when translated into unprofessional language?
unprofitable | unprofitable: adj. 1 profitless, ungainful, unremunerative, unfruitful, non-profit-making; breaking even; losing, loss-making: The last quarter was unprofitable for car manufacturers. 2 bootless, pointless, purposeless, unavailing, futile, useless, unproductive, worthless, ineffective, inefficient: Having employees sitting about waiting for the telephone to ring is unprofitable.
unpromising | unpromising: adj. inauspicious, unpropitious, unfavourable, gloomy, ominous, adverse, portentous, baleful, hopeless: The forecast for the economy looked unpromising yesterday but has suddenly brightened.
unqualified | unqualified: adj. 1 ineligible, unfit, untrained, ill-equipped, unsuited, unequipped, unprepared: He was rejected as unqualified for the job of repairing computers. 2 unrestricted, unreserved, unconditional, categorical, outright, unmitigated, downright, out-and-out, pure (and simple), true, perfect, utter, absolute, consummate: If he told you that he flew jets in the RAF, he is an unqualified liar. Cato''s unqualified ''Delenda est Cartago'' was echoed in every speech he made in the Roman senate.
unquenchable | unquenchable: adj. insatiable, unslakeable or unslakable, unsatisfiable; inextinguishable, unsuppressible, irrepressible, indestructible: She had an unquenchable thirst for knowledge. Those principles have kindled an unquenchable fire in the hearts of the oppressed.
unquestionable | unquestionable: adj. unexceptionable, indubitable, undoubted, indisputable, incontestable, unimpeachable, undeniable, certain, sure, positive, irrefutable, manifest, obvious, patent, clear, definite, incontrovertible, unequivocal, unmistakable or unmistakeable, conclusive: Their integrity is unquestionable, and I have complete confidence in them.
unreal | unreal: adj. 1 imaginary, fantastic, chimeric(al), fanciful, fancied, illusory, make-believe, phantasmagoric(al), phantasmal, spectral, figmental, unrealistic, non-existent: Fear made the whole scene unreal to Martha. 2 theoretical, hypothetical, mythical, imaginary, made-up, fictitious, make-believe, fanciful: Although the example is unreal, it will serve its purpose in my argument. 3 artificial, synthetic, synthesized, mock, false, fake(d), counterfeit, fraudulent, dummy, spurious, falsified, pretend(ed), sham, pseudo, make-believe: The countryside looked a little unreal, too luxuriant and too sculptured.
unrealistic | unrealistic: adj. 1 impractical, illogical, unreasonable, unworkable, unrealizable, quixotic, romantic, fanciful, visionary, delusional, delusive, delusory: However exciting it is to think of travelling faster than light, the notion is unrealistic. 2 unreal, unlifelike, unnatural, unauthentic, non-representational, unrepresentative, inaccurate: The background paintings are poorly done and unrealistic.
unreasonable | unreasonable: adj. 1 irrational, illogical, unthinking, absurd, foolish, senseless, nonsensical, mindless, brainless, thoughtless, silly, mad, crazy, insane, idiotic, moronic, imbecilic, stupid, fatuous, ridiculous, ludicrous, laughable, preposterous, far-fetched, short-sighted, unperceptive, unperceiving, undiscerning, myopic, blind: Some people have an unreasonable aversion to anything scientific. Is it unreasonable to expect you to spend a little time with your mother? 2 excessive, outrageous, exorbitant, extravagant, immoderate, extortionate, inordinate, unconscionable, unjust, unwarranted, inequitable, unfair, unequal, improper, unjustified, unjustifiable, uncalled-for: The new tax puts an unreasonable demand on those with lower incomes. 3 inappropriate, unapt or inapt, unsuitable, unbefitting, impractical, unrealistic: His conduct was quite unreasonable for a man of the cloth.
unrefined | unrefined: adj. 1 coarse, rude, rough, unsophisticated, uncultured, uncivilized, uncultivated, unpolished, inelegant, ill-bred, impolite, discourteous, unmannerly, ill-mannered, bad-mannered, ignoble, plebeian, undignified, unladylike, ungentlemanlike, ungentlemanly, uncourtly, ungracious, boorish, loutish, gross, vulgar, uncouth, cloddish, bumbling, awkward, gauche: Consider their background before criticizing them for being unrefined. 2 impure, unpurified, unclarified, raw, crude, coarse, untreated, unfinished, natural, unprocessed: The unrefined ore is first washed thoroughly.
unrelated | unrelated: adj. independent, separate, distinct, different, dissimilar, incompatible, inappropriate, foreign, alien, unassociated, unaffiliated, unconnected, uncoupled, unlinked, unallied, uncoordinated: Why raise a totally unrelated issue?
unreliable | unreliable: adj. irresponsible, disreputable; untrustworthy, undependable, uncertain, unstable, treacherous, flimsy, weak: He is unreliable and unlikely to be there when you need him. The equipment was expensive, slow, and unreliable.
unrepentant | unrepentant: adj. unrepenting, unremorseful, impenitent, unapologetic, unregretful, unashamed, unembarrassed, unselfconscious, remorseless, unreformed, unrehabilitated, unregenerate, recidivist or recidivistic or recidivous: They were quite unrepentant, though they had seen for themselves the harm they had done.
unresolved | unresolved: adj. unsettled, open, up in the air, moot, pending, debatable, arguable, problematic(al), indefinite, vague, open to question, questionable, unanswered, unsolved; undetermined, undecided, uncertain, unsure, ambivalent, wavering, vacillating, irresolute: The matter of joining the monetary union remained unresolved. I am still unresolved on the issue.
unrest | unrest: n. disquiet, uneasiness, distress, anxiety, anxiousness, nervousness, anguish, unease, worry, concern, agitation, turmoil, disturbance, trouble, strife, agony: The proximity of the huge army on our borders caused considerable unrest among the populace.
unruly | unruly: adj. unmanageable, ungovernable, uncontrollable, undisciplined, unregulated, lawless, disobedient, insubordinate, rebellious, mutinous, fractious, refractory, contumacious, obstreperous, wilful, headstrong, stubborn, recalcitrant, intractable, defiant, uncooperative, wayward, disorderly, turbulent, riotous, tumultuous, violent, stormy, tempestuous: She had no idea of how to handle a capricious and unruly teenager. The first reading of the bill led to an unruly session of Parliament.
unsatisfactory | unsatisfactory: adj. insufficient, inadequate, inferior, poor, unacceptable, displeasing, disappointing, unworthy, inappropriate, deficient, weak, wanting, lacking, unsuitable, imperfect, flawed, defective, faulty: The report was unsatisfactory in that it failed to meet the committee''s demands. Why put up with unsatisfactory workmanship?
unsavoury | unsavoury: adj. distasteful, objectionable, unpleasant, disagreeable, unappetizing, unpalatable, offensive, repugnant, obnoxious, repellent, nasty, repulsive, revolting, disgusting, nauseating, sickening: Her ex-husband is a totally unsavoury character. Even the most unsavoury swill tasted like ambrosia to the starving inmates.
unscathed | unscathed: adj. unharmed, unhurt, uninjured, unmarked, untouched, undamaged, unscarred, unscratched, safe and sound, in one piece, as new, Archaic scatheless, Colloq like new: Miraculously, he came out of the battle unscathed.
unscrupulous | unscrupulous: adj. unconscionable, conscienceless, unprincipled, amoral, unethical, immoral, dishonourable, corrupt, dishonest, deceitful, sly, cunning, artful, insidious, shifty, sneaky, slippery, roguish, knavish, disingenuous, treacherous, perfidious, faithless, false, untrustworthy, wicked, evil, Colloq crooked: Some people are totally unscrupulous in the pursuit of their ambitions.
unseasonable | unseasonable: adj. unsuitable, inopportune, inappropriate, untimely, ill-timed, inexpedient: Unseasonable frosts in April caused severe damage to the flower buds.
unseemly | unseemly: adj. 1 improper, unrefined, unbecoming, indecorous, indelicate, unbecoming, unladylike, ungentlemanly, undignified, in poor or bad taste, disreputable, discreditable, risqu�, naughty, indecent, shameful, offensive, lewd, lascivious, obscene, rude, coarse: Out of desperation, they engaged in some unseemly activities. 2 impolitic, unwise, imprudent, inapt, inappropriate, inopportune, inconvenient, uncalled-for, unsuitable, improper, inadvisable, ill-advised, unbefitting, unfitting, out of place or keeping, awkward, inauspicious, inexpedient, unfortunate, ill-timed, untimely: It would be unseemly for you to become involved with such a notorious individual.
unselfish | unselfish: adj. generous, charitable, open-handed, ungrudging, unstinting, unsparing, giving, magnanimous, philanthropic, humanitarian, free, liberal, altruistic, selfless, self-sacrificing: We were all greatly impressed by her unselfish concern for the well-being of her colleagues.
unsettled | unsettled: adj. 1 unfixed, unstable, changing, varying, variable, changeable, inconstant, ever-changing, protean, unpredictable, inconstant, uncertain: The weather remained unsettled all week. They told me of their unsettled life as gypsies. 2 disturbed, turbulent, riled, agitated, disquieted, upset, perturbed, ruffled, rattled, flustered, restive, restless, unnerved, US roiled: It was being kept in the dark about Father that made us feel unsettled. 3 disoriented, confused, mixed up, unorganized, disorganized, disorderly, disordered, tumultuous: The unsettled situation in the east worried us. 4 See unresolved, above: Some questions about Ian remain unsettled.
unsettling | unsettling: adj. unnerving, upsetting, disturbing, perturbing, discomfiting, disconcerting: Sorry for being a wet blanket, but I have had some unsettling news from home.
unsightly | unsightly: adj. ugly, hideous, awful-looking, horrible, frightful-looking, unattractive, unprepossessing, unlovely, unpretty, plain, US and Canadian homely: The property borders an unsightly junk-yard.
unsocial | unsocial: adj. unsociable, unfriendly, cool, cold, chilly, aloof, uncongenial, unamiable, unforthcoming, standoffish, inhospitable, withdrawn, reserved, solitary, retiring, distant, detached, reclusive, hermitic(al), eremitic(al), anchoritic or anchoretic; antisocial, misanthropic, hostile: Erwin, who prefers to be alone, is definitely unsocial. Donna, who despises other people, is unsocial for different reasons.
unsolicited | unsolicited: adj. unlooked-for, unsought, unsought after, unrequested, unasked for, uncalled-for, gratuitous, uninvited; Colloq US over-the-transom: Tanya is always offering unsolicited advice on every conceivable subject. The publishers receive scores of unsolicited book manuscripts each week.
unsophisticated | unsophisticated: adj. 1 na�ve, inexperienced, simple, childlike, unworldly, innocent, ingenuous, artless, guileless: Is the unsophisticated consumer sufficiently protected against unscrupulous traders? 2 simple, plain, uncomplicated, undetailed, uninvolved, unrefined: The computers of twenty years ago were unsophisticated compared with those of today.
unsound | unsound: adj. 1 weak, feeble, frail, rickety, shaky, ramshackle, infirm, unstable, wobbly, tottering, unsteady, broken-down, crumbling, disintegrating, dilapidated, defective, imperfect, faulty, decayed, rotten: The building inspector condemned the structure as unsound and unsafe. 2 unhealthy, diseased, ill, afflicted, in poor health, ailing, sickly, sick, unwell, delicate, injured, wounded: The attack of flu left him unsound in wind and limb. 3 insane, mad, psychotic, unbalanced, unstable, demented, deranged: The doctors said that she was still of unsound mind and ought not be released. 4 illogical, faulty, flawed, fallacious, untenable, invalid, groundless, unfounded, erroneous, defective, specious: We thought that his arguments were unsound, so we rejected his recommendations.
unspoiled | unspoiled: adj. unspoilt, unsullied, pristine, virgin, whole, untainted, unstained, immaculate, uncorrupted, unpolluted, spotless, stainless: The house has been preserved in its original condition, unspoiled by modern additions.
unstable | unstable: adj. 1 changeable, variable, unsteady, inconstant, inconsistent, insecure, capricious, fickle, irregular, unpredictable, unreliable, erratic, volatile, fluctuating, flighty, mercurial, vacillating, tergiversating, indecisive, undecided, irresolute, indefinite, unsettled: He seems too unstable to maintain a long-standing relationship. 2 See unsound, 1, above.
unsuccessful | unsuccessful: adj. 1 unfortunate, unavailing, vain, abortive, useless, bootless, fruitless, unfruitful, unproductive, ineffective, ineffectual, inefficacious, worthless, unprofitable, sterile: We made an unsuccessful attempt to regain control of the company. 2 unlucky, hapless, unfortunate, luckless, defeated, beaten, jinxed, cursed, foiled, frustrated, balked: Trevor complained that he had been unsuccessful in business all his life.
unsung | unsung: adj. uncelebrated, unrecognized, unglorified, unexalted, unpraised, unhonoured, unnoticed, disregarded, unknown, anonymous, unidentified, nameless, obscure, insignificant, inconspicuous: I have no wish to add to the long list of unsung authors of the twentieth century.
unsuspecting | unsuspecting: adj. unsuspicious, unwary, unknowing, ignorant, unconscious, gullible, credulous, na�ve, ingenuous, innocent, trusting; unaware, off guard: Martin became an unsuspecting dupe in Lambert''s plot to embezzle money from the bank.
unsympathetic | unsympathetic: adj. uncaring, unconcerned, callous, unfeeling, unaffected, untouched, unmoved, indifferent, unemotional, dispassionate, uncompassionate, unreactive, unresponsive, impassive, stolid, cold, cool, aloof, unstirred, apathetic, insensitive, stoic(al), stony, adamant, stony-hearted, hard-hearted, unpitying, pitiless, ruthless: We were unable to understand Taylor''s unsympathetic attitude to the suffering around him.
untamed | untamed: adj. undomesticated, wild, unbroken, unsubdued, uncontrollable, savage, fierce, feral, ferocious: In the story, the wolf boy behaves like an untamed beast.
untarnished | untarnished: adj. unsoiled, unsullied, immaculate, spotless, unspotted, untainted, faultless, uncorrupted, unfouled, chaste, lily-white, undefiled, virginal: Despite the obloquy heaped on his colleagues, his own reputation remained untarnished.
untenable | untenable: adj. insupportable or unsupportable, indefensible, unsustainable, unmaintainable, unjustified, unjustifiable, baseless, groundless, unfounded, flawed, faulty, weak, illogical, specious, implausible, unreasonable, unsound: It is beyond me why he holds so tenaciously to such untenable views.
unthinkable | unthinkable: adj. 1 inconceivable, unbelievable, unimaginable, incredible, incomprehensible, beyond belief, extraordinary, Colloq mind-boggling, Slang mind-blowing: It seemed unthinkable that such a mild-mannered man could have been a mass murderer. 2 unacceptable, absurd, illogical, impossible, improbable, unlikely, out of the question, preposterous, ridiculous, laughable, ludicrous, Colloq not on: It is simply unthinkable for her to go to the ball unattended.
unthinking | unthinking: adj. 1 thoughtless, mindless, undiscriminating, unconsidered, unwitting, unreflecting, unthoughtful, irrational, unreasonable, illogical, unperceptive, unperceiving, undiscerning, witless, brainless, foolish, senseless, nonsensical, rash, stupid, silly, mad, crazy, insane, idiotic, moronic, imbecilic, hasty, short-sighted: It was unthinking of me to ask her mother to go out to dinner with us. 2 inconsiderate, impolite, tactless, rude, thoughtless, undiplomatic, discourteous, uncivil, imprudent, unwise, indiscreet, neglectful: On the other hand, it would have been unthinking of me not to ask her mother.
untidy | untidy: adj. disorderly, messy, dishevelled, unkempt, slovenly, slatternly, bedraggled, rumpled, frowzy, sloppy, dirty; littered, cluttered, chaotic, helter-skelter, jumbled, Archaic draggle-tailed, Colloq US mussy, mussed-up: You should never go to the door looking so untidy. Ken''s papers are always so untidy.
untiring | untiring: adj. unflagging, determined, indefatigable, dogged, persevering, perseverant, tireless, unwearying, unwearied, dogged, dedicated, unfailing, unfaltering, steady: Kim has always been an untiring perfectionist.
untold | untold: adj. 1 countless, uncounted, uncountable, unnumbered, numberless, innumerable, myriad, incalculable; immeasurable, measureless, unlimited: Untold millions are lost through tax fraud each year. 2 unrecounted, unnarrated, undescribed, unpublished, unrevealed, undisclosed, undivulged, unreported, private, hidden, secret: How many untold stories are there in the naked city? 3 inexpressible, unutterable, indescribable, unimaginable, inconceivable, unthinkable, unspeakable: The untold agony that man went through because of his family''s illnesses!
untoward | untoward: adj. 1 adverse, unfavourable, unpropitious, discouraging, inopportune, unpromising, bleak, inauspicious, bad, unfortunate: The rainstorm created untoward conditions, causing the river to rise dangerously. 2 unbecoming, unfitting, awkward, inappropriate, unapt, unsuitable, improper, impolite, rude, boorish, ungentlemanly, unladylike, indecorous, indelicate, unwarranted, uncalled-for, unrefined, unseemly, unwise, imprudent, undiplomatic, tactless, untactful, ill-conceived, silly, foolish, stupid, ill-timed, vexatious, vexing, irritating, annoying: Charles made some untoward remark about the size of Sandra''s feet.
untried | untried: adj. untested, unproved or unproven, new: He may be good at homes, but he is as yet untried as the designer of a library.
untrue | untrue: adj. 1 unfaithful, faithless, disloyal, fickle, capricious, undependable, unreliable, dishonourable, untrustworthy, false, hypocritical, dishonest, insincere, two-faced, duplicitous, devious, deceitful, treacherous, perfidious: Only when I saw her with Henry did I realize that Pauline had been untrue to me. 2 wrong, false, inaccurate, incorrect, erroneous, misleading, mistaken, distorted: What you said about Pauline was simply untrue. 3 inexact, non-standard, substandard, imprecise, imperfect: How unfortunate for legend had William Tell''s aim been untrue!
unused | unused: adj. 1 (brand) new, untouched, pristine, original, intact, fresh, firsthand: He sold me his unused computer for half what it cost. 2 disused, abandoned, derelict, neglected, given up: We hid in an old unused factory building. 3 unconsumed, leftover, remaining, left: If dissatisfied with this product, return the unused portion for a full refund. 4 unused to. unaccustomed to, unfamiliar with, inexperienced in or at, amateurish at, unpractised in or at, uninitiated in: I am quite unused to doing that sort of thing.
unusual | unusual: adj. uncommon, exceptional, atypical, untypical, different, unexpected, singular, out of the ordinary, extraordinary, odd, peculiar, curious, bizarre, strange, queer, remarkable, unique, freakish, unprecedented, unconventional, unorthodox, Slang off-the-wall: It takes an unusual person to be as charitable as Jean. Don''t you agree that an egg-laying mammal is a bit unusual?
unvarnished | unvarnished: adj. plain, simple, pure, unembellished, straightforward, straight, direct, honest, unelaborated, naked, stark, sincere, frank, candid, outspoken: My dear, let me tell you the unvarnished truth about Marnie and Jim.
unveil | unveil: v. reveal, expose, uncover, lay bare or open, bare, bring to light: They will unveil a rival bid at tomorrow''s meeting. Only after William died did Cynthia unveil the truth about his double life.
unwarranted | unwarranted: adj. uncalled-for, unasked, unasked for, unjustified, indefensible, unjust, unfair, unconscionable, unworthy, improper, inexcusable, gratuitous, unmerited, undeserved, unprovoked, outrageous, excessive, unreasonable, unrestrained, intemperate, untempered, immoderate, undue, unnecessary: The police were accused of unwarranted use of force in ejecting the rowdies from the pub.
unwary | unwary: adj. heedless, careless, hasty, incautious, unguarded, imprudent, rash, foolhardy, reckless, thoughtless, indiscreet, unthinking, mindless, unwise: Many perils await the unwary traveller. It was unwary of you not to lock the doors and windows.
unwashed | unwashed: adj. 1 dirty, uncleaned, unclean, uncleansed: Separate your personal things from the unwashed laundry in the hamper. --n. 2 the (great) unwashed. Derogatory the rabble, the masses, the mob, the plebs, people (at large or in general), the population, the populace, the man or woman in the street, Mr (& Mrs) Average, the working class(es), most people, the (silent) majority, US John Q. Public: The effort to sell expensive brandy to the great unwashed failed miserably.
unwelcome | unwelcome: adj. 1 uninvited, unsought for, unwished for, undesired, undesirable, displeasing, unpleasing, distasteful, unpleasant: My day was further ruined by the unwelcome arrival of all those bills. 2 unwanted, rejected, unaccepted, excluded; persona non grata, anathema: Following that episode, Curshaw was made to feel unwelcome at the club.
unwholesome | unwholesome: adj. 1 unhealthy, unhealthful, detrimental, deleterious, pernicious, insalubrious, unhygienic, insalutary, harmful, noxious, toxic, injurious, destructive: Fernthwaite finally succumbed to the unwholesome climate and had to be sent home. 2 corrupt, immoral, bad, wicked, evil, sinful, perverted; demoralizing, depraved, degrading, corrupting, perverting: The social worker said it was wrong for a child to be raised in such an unwholesome atmosphere. 3 ill, ailing, sickly, sick, pale, wan, anaemic, pallid, pasty: Their unwholesome complexion comes from malnutrition.
unwieldy | unwieldy: adj. awkward, clumsy, bulky, oversized, cumbersome, ungainly, unmanageable, unhandy, unmanoeuvrable: The huge oil tankers, though economical, often proved unwieldy in the ports they visited.
unwonted | unwonted: adj. infrequent, unusual, uncustomary, uncommon, unfamiliar, unprecedented, rare, singular, atypical, abnormal, peculiar, odd, strange, irregular, unconventional, unorthodox: All this unwonted physical exercise made them exhausted by evening.
unworthy | unworthy: adj. 1 unequal, meritless, unmerited, substandard, inferior, second-rate, menial, puny, petty, paltry, unprofessional, mediocre, despicable, contemptible, dishonourable, ignoble, disreputable, discreditable, unqualified, ineligible, unfit, undeserving: I consider Patrick an unworthy opponent. 2 unworthy of. unbecoming to, inappropriate to, unsuitable for, unfit for, out of character for, inconsistent with or for, out of place with or for, incongruous with or for: That sort of petty haggling is unworthy of your position and of you.
