unpleasing

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English

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Etymology

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From Middle English un-plesyng, equivalent to un- +‎ pleasing.

Pronunciation

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Adjective

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unpleasing (comparative more unpleasing, superlative most unpleasing)

  1. Not pleasing; unpleasant.
    • c. 1591–1595 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Romeo and Ivliet”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies [] (First Folio), London: [] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene v]:
      It is, it is: hie hence, be gone, away!
      It is the lark that sings so out of tune,
      Straining harsh discords and unpleasing sharps.
    • 1766, [Oliver Goldsmith], chapter 13, in The Vicar of Wakefield: [], volume (please specify |volume=I or II), Salisbury, Wiltshire: [] B. Collins, for F[rancis] Newbery, [], →OCLC:
      [] Be assured, my dear, that these were the harshest words, and to me the most unpleasing that ever escaped your lips!’
    • 1950 December, H. C. Casserley, “Locomotive Cavalcade, 1920-1950—6”, in Railway Magazine, page 843:
      This looked peculiar at first, but not unpleasing when one gets used to it.
    • 2000, J. G. Ballard, Super-Cannes, Fourth Estate, published 2011, page 86:
      Zander took out a silk handkerchief and vented some unpleasing odour from his mouth.