unsavory

English

Alternative forms

• unsavoury (UK)

Etymology

un- +‎ savory

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ʌnˈseɪv.əɹ.i/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

Adjective

unsavory (comparative more unsavory, superlative most unsavory) (American spelling)

1. Not savory; without flavor.
2. Of bad taste; distasteful.
3. Making an activity undesirable.
4. Disreputable, not respectable, of questionable moral character.

   His unsavory reputation as a mobster came back to haunt him when he ran for mayor of New York.

Usage notes

• Nouns to which "unsavory" is often applied: reputation, character, aspect, element, practice, friend, tactics.

Translations

disreputable

• Dutch: twijfelachtig (nl), onsmakelijk (nl)
• Norwegian: smakløst
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Swedish: tvivelaktig (sv)