unambitious

/ˌʌnæmˈbɪʃəs/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌʌnæmˈbɪʃəs/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌən-am-ˈbi-shəs How to pronounce unambitious (audio)/ (ame, mw)

unambitious — adjective

  • unambitiouspositive
  • more unambitiouscomparative
  • most unambitioussuperlative

1. describes a person who is content with a simple way of living and does not feel

1.形容詞B2
釋義

describes a person who is content with a simple way of living and does not feel a strong need to earn more money, gain a higher status, or become famous through achievement.

例句

Mira lived an unambitious life — she gardened and read novels at home.

collocation: unambitious life

The village elders described the young carpenter as unambitious because he never tried to open a bigger workshop.

attributive: describe + as + unambitious

同義詞
  • content

    emphasises satisfaction with one's situation rather than a lack of desire; more clearly positive

  • easygoing

    focuses on a relaxed, carefree personality rather than career goals

  • modest

    can overlap in meaning but also describes humility and not showing off

反義詞
  • ambitious

    direct opposite — having a strong desire for success, power, or wealth

  • driven

    suggests an intense inner motivation to achieve

文法句型

unambitious + noun (person, attitude, life)

be + unambitious

用法筆記

Frequently used about a person's general character or attitude rather than a single decision. Often carries a neutral or mildly positive tone when it describes a deliberate choice to live simply, but can be critical if it suggests laziness.

常見錯誤

❌She is unambitious to study abroad.
✅She is not interested in studying abroad.
💡unambitious describes a lasting character trait, not a temporary feeling about a specific action.

2. describes a plan, project, or goal that is intentionally limited in its aims and

2.形容詞B2
釋義

describes a plan, project, or goal that is intentionally limited in its aims and does not demand much skill, effort, or creative new thinking to carry out.

例句

The school board approved an unambitious plan to repaint just one classroom instead of the whole building.

collocation: unambitious plan

Minho criticized the project as unambitious — copying old data into a spreadsheet was all it required.

同義詞
  • modest

    the closest synonym; often interchangeable, but unambitious carries a slightly more critical tone

  • simple

    focuses on ease or lack of complexity; broader in use

  • small-scale

    emphasises limited size or reach, not necessarily lack of effort

反義詞
  • ambitious

    direct opposite — a plan that aims high and requires great effort

  • challenging

    highlights difficulty and the need for skill

  • demanding

    emphasises the hard work or time required

文法句型

unambitious + noun (plan, goal, target, project)

be + unambitious

用法筆記

Used mainly for plans, targets, goals, or projects that could reasonably have been set higher. Rarely used for everyday tasks like cooking a meal or taking a short walk.

常見錯誤

❌The exam was unambitious.
✅The exam was easy.
💡unambitious describes the scope of a plan or goal, not the difficulty of a one-time test or event.