unappetizing

British  

/ ʌnˈæpɪˌtaɪzɪŋ /

adjective

1. (of food) not pleasing or stimulating to the appetite

2. (of a prospect, person, etc) not appealing or attractive

   unappetizing to investors

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Explanation

Anything unappetizing either looks like it would taste terrible or is otherwise unattractive. If the school cafeteria offers only unappetizing mystery meat and limp salad, you'll probably decide to bring a sandwich for lunch. Your personal list of unappetizing things might include black licorice, brussels sprouts, and egg salad. You can also use this adjective for other things that leave you feeling a little queasy, like a relative's unappetizing political convictions or an unappetizing scene in a horror movie that makes you cover your eyes. Unappetizing is what you get when you add the "not" prefix un- to appetizing, which stems from the Latin appetitus, "desiring toward."

Example Sentences

To see why AI has developed a reputation associated with unappetizing pig feed, you just have to start scrolling.

From MarketWatch • Dec. 29, 2025

Analysts say the high investment required to rebuild Venezuela's crumbling oil rigs would be unappetizing for US firms, given the steady global supply and low prices.

From Barron's • Dec. 22, 2025

But these days, telling a table for two that they only have 90 minutes to eat is unappetizing, says Benjamin Berg, founder of the Berg restaurant group in Houston.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 30, 2025

But unappetizing recipes aren’t the most harmful results that the feature can kick out.

From Salon • May 23, 2024

As unappetizing as this sounds, I am so hungry I don’t care.

From "Orphan Train" by Christina Baker Kline

Related Words

• insipid
• unappealing
• unattractive
• uninteresting
• unpalatable
• unpleasant
• unsavory