undesirable
/ˌʌndɪˈzaɪərəbl/ (bre, ipa) · [ˌʌndɪzˈaɪrəbəl] /ˌʌndɪˈzaɪərəbl/ (ame, ipa) · [ˌʌndɪzˈaɪrəbəl] /ˌən-di-ˈzī-rə-bəl How to pronounce undesirable (audio)/ (ame, mw)
undesirable — adjective
- undesirablepositive
- more undesirablecomparative
- most undesirablesuperlative
1. Something that is undesirable is thought to be harmful, unpleasant, or likely to
Something that is undesirable is thought to be harmful, unpleasant, or likely to create difficulties — which is why people want to avoid it, prevent it, or get rid of it.
The new factory brought jobs, but also created undesirable effects like noise and air pollution.
adjective + noun: undesirable effects / consequences / side effects
Renata removed all undesirable content from her social media profile before the job interview.
Living near the airport was undesirable because of the noise from planes taking off.
The school introduced a new code of conduct to discourage undesirable behavior among students.
Kenji thought the changes to the park were undesirable and would destroy its natural beauty.
- unwanted
weaker judgment — something is simply not wanted, not necessarily harmful
- objectionable
more formal; implies strong disapproval on moral or social grounds
- unacceptable
focuses on failing to meet a required standard rather than causing harm
- desirable
the direct opposite; something people want or welcome
文法句型
be + undesirable
undesirable + noun
用法筆記
Frequently appears in formal or semi-formal writing such as reports, policies, and news articles. Often pairs with nouns describing outcomes or traits (effects, consequences, behavior, side effects).
常見錯誤
undesirable — noun
1. An undesirable is a person who is not welcome in a particular place, group, or s
An undesirable is a person who is not welcome in a particular place, group, or situation because others think they will cause trouble, behave badly, or create unpleasantness.
The apartment building installed a security gate to keep out undesirables who might cause trouble.
keep out + undesirables
Folake's landlord told her that no undesirables were allowed to stay overnight in the building.
The security guard watched for undesirables trying to sneak into the concert without tickets.
After repeated complaints about noise, the cafe owner banned a few undesirables from the premises.
Gabriela warned the organisers that undesirables had been seen near the entrance.
- unwelcome person
less formal; focuses on being not invited rather than causing trouble
- persona non grata
formal Latin term used in diplomatic contexts; much stronger official status
文法句型
the undesirables
keep out + undesirables
ban + undesirables + from + place
用法筆記
Almost always used in the plural form ('undesirables'). Carries a strong negative and judgmental tone, so it should be used with care. More common in official reports and security contexts than in everyday speech.