unapproachable
/ˌʌnəˈprəʊtʃəbl/ (bre, ipa) · [ˌʌnəprˈotʃəbəl] /ˌʌnəˈprəʊtʃəbl/ (ame, ipa) · [ˌʌnəprˈotʃəbəl] /ˌən-ə-ˈprō-chə-bəl How to pronounce unapproachable (audio)/ (ame, mw)
unapproachable — adjective
- unapproachablepositive
- more unapproachablecomparative
- most unapproachablesuperlative
1. describes a person who behaves in a way that makes others feel nervous about sta
describes a person who behaves in a way that makes others feel nervous about starting a conversation or asking for help — for example, someone who never smiles, avoids eye contact, or reacts coldly when spoken to.
After the manager's angry outburst, the team felt he was too unapproachable to discuss the budget problems with.
too + adjective + to-infinitive pattern
Charlotte tried to greet the new neighbour, but his cold stare made him seem completely unapproachable.
linking verb: seem unapproachable
With a security guard beside her desk, the director looked unapproachable to anyone without an appointment.
Femi wanted to ask his professor a question, but her stern voice during the lecture made her seem unapproachable.
- aloof
suggests emotional distance or detachment, often deliberate
- standoffish
informal; describes someone who acts unfriendly and keeps others at a distance
- forbidding
suggests a stern or threatening appearance that discourages contact
- approachable
friendly and easy to talk to
- welcoming
warm and eager to engage with others
文法句型
be unapproachable
seem/look/feel unapproachable
too unapproachable to [verb]
用法筆記
This sense typically describes a person's behaviour or manner. It does not describe physical difficulty of access — use sense 2 for that meaning. Frequently appears with intensifiers such as 'too', 'completely', or 'so…that'.
常見錯誤
2. describes a physical place or object that is extremely difficult or impossible t
describes a physical place or object that is extremely difficult or impossible to get to, usually because of dangerous terrain, natural barriers, or blocked routes.
The ancient castle stood on a cliff that was unapproachable from the sea side.
unapproachable from [direction]
After the landslide, the mountain village was unapproachable except by helicopter.
unapproachable except by [means]
Roya mapped unapproachable areas of the jungle where even experienced guides refused to go.
The island's rocky coast made the harbour unapproachable during the winter storms.
- inaccessible
the most common synonym; suggests a route is blocked or missing
- unreachable
emphasises that a destination is beyond one's ability to travel to it
- remote
describes a place far from towns or roads, not necessarily blocked
- accessible
easy to reach or enter
- reachable
possible to get to within reasonable effort
文法句型
be unapproachable
unapproachable + noun (route, region, building)
unapproachable from [direction]
unapproachable except by [means]
用法筆記
This sense applies only to physical locations or structures. Never use it for people, tasks, or abstract concepts — those belong to sense 1 or require a different word such as 'inaccessible' or 'unreachable'.