unreceptive

IPA/ˌʌn.rɪˈsep.tɪv/
KK[ənrɪsˈɛptɪv]IPA/ˌʌn.rɪˈsep.tɪv/

unreceptive — adjective

  • unreceptivepositive
  • more unreceptivecomparative
  • most unreceptivesuperlative

1. showing little readiness to hear advice, suggestions, or unfamiliar ideas, and u

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

showing little readiness to hear advice, suggestions, or unfamiliar ideas, and unlikely to take them seriously

Example

Eri was unreceptive to her son's idea of moving the shop online.

unreceptive to + idea or suggestion

The school board seemed unreceptive when parents asked for later start times.

Common collocations
  • unreceptive to advice
  • unreceptive to feedback
  • unreceptive to change
  • unreceptive to suggestions
  • unreceptive audience
  • unreceptive attitude
  • remain unreceptive
Synonyms
  • resistant

    often stronger and more oppositional; suggests active pushback rather than simple unwillingness to listen

  • dismissive

    emphasizes treating ideas as unimportant or not worth attention

  • closed-minded

    broader and more judgmental; suggests a general unwillingness to consider different views

Antonyms
  • receptive

    ready to listen to and accept ideas or suggestions

  • open-minded

    willing to consider views that differ from your own

Grammar Patterns

unreceptive + to + noun phrase

remain / stay + unreceptive

an unreceptive + noun

Usage Note

Most often followed by 'to' plus advice, feedback, change, or a proposal. When used before a noun, as in 'an unreceptive audience', it describes a person or group that is not ready to listen.

Common Mistakes

The director was unreceptive for new ideas.
The director was unreceptive to new ideas.
the adjective normally takes 'to', not 'for'.
She was unreceptive to listen to other opinions.
She was unreceptive to other opinions.
after 'unreceptive to', use a noun phrase, not an infinitive.

Word family

  • receptive
    adjectiveB2
  • receptiveness
    nounC1
  • receptively
    adverbC2
  • unreceptively
    adverbC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

'Unreceptive' describes someone who does not take in advice, suggestions, or new ideas readily. 'Resistant' is usually stronger and often suggests active opposition, especially when someone pushes back against change or pressure. 'Dismissive' focuses on attitude: the person treats an idea as unimportant or not worth attention. 'Closed-minded' is broader and more judgmental, describing a general habit of refusing other viewpoints, not just one moment of poor listening. 'Receptive' is the opposite: it describes someone who is open to hearing something out and may be ready to accept it. Use 'unreceptive' when you want to stress a failure to listen or take something on board without necessarily implying open hostility.

unreceptive ↗resistant ↗dismissive ↗closed-minded ↗receptive ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

  • highly unreceptive
  • noticeably unreceptive
  • consistently unreceptive
  • stubbornly unreceptive

Phrases

  • remain unreceptive to
  • be unreceptive to change
  • be unreceptive to criticism
  • find someone unreceptive

Prepositions

  • unreceptive to

Etymology

LatinEnglish

Built from the negative prefix 'un-' and 'receptive', which comes from Latin 'receptivus', based on 'recipere' meaning 'to receive'. In English, the word developed to describe a person or group that is not open to receiving ideas, advice, or influence.

First known use

1722

1722, in the meaning defined above