Copyright © Philip M. Parker, INSEAD. Terms of Use.
Definition: Undesirable |
UndesirableAdjective1. Not desirable; "undesirable impurities in steel"; "legislation excluding undesirable aliens". 2. Not worthy of being chosen (especially as a spouse). Noun1. One whose presence is undesirable: "rounding up vagrants and drunks and other undesirables". Source: WordNet 1.7.1 Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved. |
Date "undesirable" was first used in popular English literature: sometime before 1663. (references) |
Synonym: UndesirableSynonym: unsuitable (adj). (additional references) |
| Antonym: desirable (adj). (additional references) |
| Context | Synonyms within Context (source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus). |
Indifference | Unattractive, unalluring, undesired, undesirable, uncared for, unwished, unvalued, all one to. |
Inexpedience | Adjective: inexpedient, undesirable; unadvisable, inadvisable; objectionable; inapt, ineligible, inadmissible, inconvenient; incommodious, discommodious; disadvantageous; inappropriate, unfit; (inconsonant). |
Pain | Adjective: causing pain, hurting; Verb: hurtful; (bad); painful; dolorific, dolorous; unpleasant; unpleasing, displeasing; disagreeable, unpalatable, bitter, distasteful; uninviting; unwelcome; undesirable, undesired; obnoxious; unacceptable, unpopular, thankless. |
| Source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus. | |
| Domain | Usage | |
Screenplays | Leo, you're a nice guy, and I like you a lot, but let's face it, you're geographically undesirable. (Charmed; writing credit: Colman deKay) | |
Movie/TV Titles | The Undesirable Neighbour (1963) An Undesirable Suitor (1914) | |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | ||
| Domain | Title |
Books | |
Theater & Movies | |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |
| Thumbnail | Description & Credit |  | Civilization builders. I am the undesirable immigrant -- I'm a dirty, lousy bum, full of ... Credit: Library of Congress. |
Source: pictures compiled by the editor from various references; see picture credits. | |||
| Subject | Topic | Quote |
Health | These drugs are undesirable for COPD patients for several reasons. (references) | |
However, practical, ethical, and fiscal barriers often make reliance on measured seroconversion undesirable. (references) | ||
However, many medications affect emptying of the colon, an undesirable side effect for people with diverticulosis. (references) | ||
Civil Liberties | Botswana | The Government censored stories or news sources that it deemed undesirable. (references) |
Brunei | Government officials also guard against the distribution and sale of items featuring undesirable photographs of religious symbols. (references) | |
Human Rights | Singapore | Some laws--the Internal Security Act (ISA), the Criminal Law (Temporary Provisions) Act (CLA), the Misuse of Drugs Act (MDA), and the Undesirable Publications Act (UPA)--have provisions for arrest without a warrant. (references) |
Indigenous People | Indonesia | Indigenous groups often claim that they receive less government support and funding than transmigrants, and transmigrants claim that in some cases they are moved to areas with undesirable land and inadequate infrastructure. (references) |
Minorities | India | Dalits are considered unclean by higher caste Hindus and thus traditionally are relegated to separate villages or neighborhoods and to low paying and often undesirable occupations (such as scavenging, street sweeping, and removing human waste and dead animals). (references) |
Political Economy | Guatemala | MINUGUA reported increases in violent deaths, killings in prisons, and "social cleansing" operations in which persons deemed socially undesirable (e.g., gang members, local delinquents, and released or escaped convicts) were murdered. (references) |
Women | Nigeria | WOPED believes that the practice is perpetuated because of a cultural belief that uncircumcised women are promiscuous, unclean, unsuitable for marriage, physically undesirable, or potential health risks to themselves and their children, especially during childbirth. (references) |
Lexicography | Devil's Dictionary | EXPERIENCE, n. The wisdom that enables us to recognize as an undesirable old acquaintance the folly that we have already embraced. To one who, journeying through night and fog, Is mired neck-deep in an unwholesome bog, Experience, like the rising of the dawn, Reveals the path that he should not have gone. Joel Frad Bink |
Source: compiled by the editor from ICON Group International, Inc.; see credits. | ||
| "Undesirable" is generally used as an adjective (general or positive) -- approximately 100.00% of the time. "Undesirable" is used about 621 times out of a sample of 100 million words spoken or written in English. Its rank is based on over 700,000 words used in the English language. Some parts-of-speech are not covered due to the samples used by the British National Corpus. (note: percents less than one-hundredth of one percent have been omitted) |
| Parts of Speech | Percent | Usage per 100 Million Words | Rank in English |
| Adjective (general or positive) | 100% | 621 | 10,417 |
Source: compiled by the editor from several corpora; see credits.
Expressions using "undesirable": control of undesirable solids ♦ most undesirable ♦ order declaring a person to be an undesirable alien ♦ undesirable alien ♦ undesirable settling down. Additional references. | |
| Hypenated Usage | |
Ending with "undesirable": medically-undesirable. | |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |
| The following statistics estimate the number of searches per day across the major English-language search engines as identified by various trade publications. Hyperlinks lead to commercial use of the expression at Amazon.com. |
| Expression | Frequency per Day |
accessed blocked content content due filtering in outpost please plug see undesirable | 276 |
abuse aspect has network several undesirable | 3 |
behavior dog male undesirable | 2 |
the undesirable | 2 |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |
| Language | Translations for "undesirable"; alternative meanings/domain in parentheses. | |
Albanian | i papërshtatshëm (ill timed, ill-placed, ill-sorted, ill-suited, improper, inadequate, inapposite, inappropriate, inapt, incongruous, inconvenient, indecorous, ineligible, inept, infelicitous, out of place, reject, unadaptable, unapt, unbecoming, unbefitting, undue, unequal, unfavorable, unfavourable, unmeet, unsuitable, unsuited, unusable, wrong), i papëlqyeshëm (bitter, disagreeable, distasteful, harsh, indecent, invidious, nasty), i padëshirueshëm. (various references) | |
Arabic | غير مرغوب فيه (unfavorable, unfavourable, unwanted, unwelcome), شخص غير مرغوب فيه (persona non grata). (various references) | |
Bulgarian | нежелателен (deplorable, inadvisable, objectionable, unacceptable, unthinkable, unwished), нежелан човек (super), нежелан (de trop, involuntary, unacceptable, unasked, unbidden, uncalled for, unwanted, unwelcome, unwished, wrong), неприятен човек (hedgehog, nuisance, rasper, tick, wart), неприятен (annoying, chronic, clammy, disagreeable, displeasing, distasteful, hairy, hideous, hoggish, inconvenient, invidious, irksome, nasty, objectionable, painful, plaguesome, plaguy, repugnant, sour, tiresome, troublesome, ugly, unagreeable, unappetizing, uncongenial, uncool, ungracious, ungrateful, unpalatable, unpleasant, untoward, unwelcome, vinegary, wicked). (various references) | |
Chinese | 不受欢迎 (undesired, unwelcome). (various references) | |
Czech | nevhodný (clumsy, ill timed, impolitic, improper, inadequate, inadvisable, inapposite, inappropriate, inapt, incongruous, inconvenient, ineligible, inexpedient, inopportune, misbecoming, off-key, unappropriated, unapt, unbecoming, uncalled for, undue, unfit, unlikely, unlucky, unseasonable, unseemly, unsuitable, untimely), nežádoucí (objectionable, regrettable, unfavorable, unsolicited, untoward, unwholesome). (various references) | |
Danish | uoensket udstraaling (undesirable radiation), uønsket slid (undesirable settling down), skadelig virkning (adverse effect, harmful effect, undesirable effect), modvirke uønskede faste stoffer (control of undesirable solids), den sammenkrollede del af foringen,kaldet guleroden,er et uoensket resultat af jet perforeringen,da den kan blokere perforeringshullerne og standse tilstroemningen (called the carrot, is an undesirable feature of jet perforating as it may sometimes lodge in the perforation and obstruct flow, the crumpled portion of the liner), bi-eller eftervirkning (after-effect, undesirable treatment result), behandlingsfølge (after-effect, undesirable treatment result). (various references) | |
Dutch | ongewenstverklaring (order declaring a person to be an undesirable alien, pronouncement of undesirability), ongewenste straling (undesirable radiation), ongewenste kettingreactie (undesirable contagious effect), ongewenste bijwerking (undesirable adverse reaction), nadelig gevolg (adverse effect, harmful effect, undesirable effect), inlopen (thickening, undesirable settling down), een van de nadelen van jetperforatie is dat het uitgestulpte deel van de zeefpijp,de zgn.carrot,in de perforatie blijft steken en zo het toestromen van de olie verhindert (called the carrot, is an undesirable feature of jet perforating as it may sometimes lodge in the perforation and obstruct flow, the crumpled portion of the liner). (various references) | |
Farsi | نامطلوب (Uncalledfor, Unfavorable), ناخواسته (Officious, Uncalledfor, Unsought, Unwelcome), ناخوش ایند (Ungrateful, Unpleasant, Unsavory, Unwelcome). (various references) | |
Finnish | epämieluinen (unwanted, unwelcome). (various references) | |
French | indésirable (unwanted). (various references) | |
German | unerwünscht (unacceptable, undesirably, uninvited, unsought, unwanted, unwantedly, unwelcome, unwished for). (various references) | |
Greek | ανεπιθύμητοσ (undersired, unwanted, unwelcome, unwished), ανεπιθύμητος (unwanted). (various references) | |
Hebrew | בלתי רצוי. (various references) | |
Hungarian | nemkívánatos (unwanted), nem kívánatos (objectionable). (various references) | |
Indonesian | tak menyenangkan (displease, unpleasant). (various references) | |
Italian | sgradito (unpleasant, unwelcome), persona indesiderabile, indesiderabile. (various references) | |
Japanese Kanji | 汚れ役 (socially undesirable characters). (various references) | |
Japanese Katakana | よ"れやく (socially undesirable characters). (various references) | |
Korean | "람직하지 않". (various references) | |
Manx | persoon neuchooie, neuyesh (clumsy, improper, inapplicable, incongruous, incorrect, inelegant, unbecoming), neuyeearreeoil, neuchooie (inapplicable, inappropriate, incongruous, inconvenient, indecent, ineligible, inordinate, out of place, unfit). (various references) | |
Pig Latin | esirableunday.(various references) | |
Portuguese | pessoa indesejável (persona non grata), indesejável (unwelcome), inconveniente (abuse, drawback, fie-fie, harm, improper, incongruous, inconvenience, inconvenient, indecent, indecorous, indelicate, inexpedient, inopportune, scurrilous, unbecoming, unbefitting, unprintable, unseemly, unsuitable, untoward), desagradável (bad, beastly, bleak, brackish, crabbed, desagreeable, disagreeable, disgusting, dismal, displeasing, distasteful, dreadful, dreary, fearful, forbidding, foul, frightful, ghastly, grisly, horrible, invidious, nasty, objectionable, obnoxious, offensive, repellent, seamy, ugly, uncomfortable, uncongenial, ungrateful, unlovely, unpleasant, unsavory, unsavoury, unthankful, untoward, unwelcome, unwished). (various references) | |
Romanian | nedorit (objectionable, uncalled for, unwanted, unwelcome, unwished), indezirabil (unwelcome). (various references) | |
Russian | нежелательный (de trop, disfavorable, ineligible, objectionable, unacceptable, unadvised, undersirable, undesired, unwanted, unwelcome, unwished). (various references) | |
Scottish | ruic (undesirable fondness). (various references) | |
Serbo-Croatian | nepoželjan (unappetizing). (various references) | |
Spanish | indeseable (objectionable). (various references) | |
Swedish | ej önskvärd. (various references) | |
Turkish | istenmeyen kimse, istenmeyen (out of favour, refuse, uncalled for, undesired, unwanted, unwelcome), hoşa gitmeyen (displeasing, offending, unlikable, unlikeable), hoş karşılanmayan (unwelcome). (various references) | |
Ukrainian | небажаний (ineligible, non grata, objectionable, unacceptable, unwanted, unwelcome, unwished), непідхожий (ill timed, improper, inadequate, inapposite, inapt, inconvenient, inept, naughty, unbecoming, unchristian, undue, unearthly, unmeet, unsuitable, untoward, unworthy). (various references) | |
Vietnamese | người không ai ưa, không ai thích, không ai ưa. (various references) | |
Welsh | annewisol (ineligible). (various references) | |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various translation references. | ||
Derivations | |
Words beginning with "undesirable": undesirableness, undesirablenesses, undesirables. (additional references) | |
| |
"Undesirable" is suggested in spellcheckers for the following: undecodable. (additional references) | |
| Source: compiled by the editor, based on several corpora (additional references). | |
| # of Phoneme Matches | Pronunciation | Word(s) rhyming with "undesirable" (pronounced u'nduzī"rubul) |
| 9 | -d u z ī" r u b u l | desirable. |
| 5 | -r u b u l | incurable, adorable, arable, bearable, curable, demonstrable, deplorable, durable, execrable, horrible, impenetrable, terrible, nondurable, parable, repairable, unbearable, uninsurable, wearable. |
| 4 | -u b u l | indefatigable, indefensible, indefinable, indelible, indescribable, indestructible, indispensable, indisputable, indistinguishable, indivisible, indomitable, inedible, ineffable, ineligible, inequitable, inescapable, inevitable, inexcusable, inexhaustible, inexorable, inexplicable, infallible, infeasible, inflammable, inflatable, acceptable, accessible, abominable, accountable, achievable, actionable, adaptable, addressable, adjustable, admirable, admissible, adoptable, advisable, affable, affordable, agreeable, allowable, amenable, amendable, amiable, amicable, analyzable, answerable, appealable, applicable, appreciable, approachable, approvable, arguable, attainable, attributable, audible, available, avoidable, bankable, believable, billable, biodegradable, breakable, buildable, burnable, callable, cannibal, capable, changeable, chargeable, charitable, classifiable, collapsible, collectible, Combinable, comfortable, commendable, communicable, comparable, compatible, compensable, comprehensible, conceivable, confirmable, considerable, constable, consumable, contemptible, contestable, controllable, convertible, copyrightable, countable, credible, creditable, crucible, culpable, debatable, deductible, defensible, definable, degradable, delectable, deliverable, dependable, deployable, depreciable, describable, despicable, detachable, detectable, determinable, developable, digestible, disagreeable, discernible, discountable, discoverable, dishonorable, dispensable, disposable, disreputable, distinguishable, divisible, doable, drinkable, drivable, eatable, edible, electable, eligible, Embraceable, employable, enforceable, enjoyable, enviable, equable, equitable, erasable, erodible, estimable, exchangeable, excitable, excludable, excusable, exercisable, expandable, expendable, explainable, exportable, extendable, extendible, fallible, fashionable, fathomable, favorable, feasible, fissionable, fixable, flammable, flexible, forcible, foreseeable, forfeitable, forgettable, forgivable, formidable, fungible, fusible, gullible, habitable, harvestable, heritable, hon, honorable, hospitable, identifiable, illegible, imaginable, imitable, immiscible, immovable, immutable, impassable, impeachable, impeccable, imperceptible, impermissible, implacable, implantable, implausible, imponderable, impossible, impracticable, impregnable, impressionable, improbable, inaccessible, inadmissible, inadvisable, inalienable, inapplicable, inaudible, incalculable, incapable, incomparable, incompatible, incomprehensible, incompressible, inconceivable, incontrovertible, incorrigible, incredible, soluble, solvable, spendable, submersible, suggestible, suitable, supportable, survivable, susceptible, sustainable, syllable, talkable, tangible, taxable, teachable, tenable, inflexible, inheritable, inhospitable, inimitable, injectable, innumerable, inoperable, insatiable, inscrutable, inseparable, insoluble, insufferable, insupportable, insurmountable, intangible, intelligible, interchangeable, interminable, interruptible, intolerable, intractable, invaluable, investable, invincible, inviolable, invisible, invulnerable, irascible, irreconcilable, irrefutable, irremediable, irreparable, irreplaceable, irrepressible, irresistible, irresponsible, irreversible, irrevocable, irritable, issuable, justifiable, knowledgeable, lamentable, laudable, laughable, leasable, legible, liable, likable, likeable, livable, lovable, malleable, manageable, mandible, maneuverable, marketable, measurable, memorable, microwavable, miscible, miserable, moldable, movable, navigable, negligible, negotiable, noncallable, nonconvertible, nondeductible, nonrefundable, nonrenewable, nontaxable, nontransferable, notable, noticeable, objectionable, observable, obtainable, operable, ostensible, palatable, palpable, passable, patentable, payable, peaceable, perceptible, perishable, permeable, permissible, personable, persuadable, pitiable, plausible, pleasurable, pliable, portable, possible, potable, practicable, predictable, preferable, presentable, preventable, printable, probable, profitable, programmable, prosecutable, provable, punishable, questionable, quotable, reachable, readable, realizable, reasonable, receivable, rechargeable, recognizable, recordable, recoverable, recyclable, redeemable, redoubtable, reducible, refundable, regrettable, reliable, remarkable, removable, renewable, rentable, repayable, repeatable, replaceable, reportable, reprehensible, reputable, resealable, resettable, respectable, responsible, retractable, returnable, reusable, reversible, revocable, ridable, salable, saleable, salvageable, seasonable, sensible, serviceable, sizable, sizeable, sociable, tolerable, traceable, tractable, tradable, tradeable, trainable, transferable, transferrable, transmittable, transportable, treatable, tunable, typeable, unacceptable, unaccountable, unaffordable, unalienable, unalterable, unanswerable, unassailable, unattainable, unavailable, unavoidable, unbeatable, unbelievable, unbuildable, uncollectible, uncomfortable, unconscionable, uncontrollable, undeniable, understandable, undetectable, unelectable, unemployable, unenforceable, unenviable, unexplainable, unfashionable, unfathomable, unfavorable, unfeasible, unflappable, unforeseeable, unforgettable, unforgivable, ungovernable, unimaginable, unimpeachable, uninhabitable, unintelligible, unjustifiable, unknowable, unlivable, unmanageable, unmentionable, unmistakable, unobtainable, unpalatable, unpredictable, unprintable, unprofitable, unquestionable, unreachable, unreadable, unreasonable, unrecognizable, unreliable, unremarkable, unsalable, unshakable, unsinkable, unsolvable, unspeakable, unstoppable, unsuitable, unsupportable, unsustainable, untenable, unthinkable, untouchable, untraceable, unusable, unverifiable, unwinnable, unworkable, usable, variable, vegetable, venerable, verifiable, veritable, viable, visible, voluble, vulnerable, washable, winnable, workable. |
| 3 | -b u l | able, amble, assemble, babble, Babel, bauble, bible, bramble, bubble, Bumble, cable, cobble, coble, corbel, crumble, cymbal, dabble, Dibble, disable, disassemble, dissemble, double, Drabble, dribble, enable, enfeeble, ennoble, ensemble, fable, feeble, foible, fumble, gable, gamble, Garble, global, gobble, Gribble, grumble, hardscrabble, herbal, hobble, humble, ignoble, immeasurable, immobile, squabble, Stabile, stable, stubble, stumble, symbol, table, intertribal, jumble, kibble, label, libel, marble, mislabel, mobile, mumble, nibble, nimble, noble, nonverbal, pebble, preamble, psychobabble, quibble, rabble, ramble, reassemble, rebel, redouble, relabel, resemble, Roble, rouble, roundtable, rubble, Ruble, rumble, sable, Scrabble, scramble, scribble, shamble, Sibyl, thimble, timetable, treble, tremble, tribal, trouble, tubal, tumble, turntable, umbel, unable, unscramble, unserviceable, unstable, valuable, verbal, wamble, wobble. |
Source: compiled by the editor (additional references); see credits. | ||
Scrabble® Enable2K-Verified Anagrams | |
| Words within the letters "a-b-d-e-e-i-l-n-r-s-u" | |
-1 letter: breadlines. | |
-2 letters: baseliner, bilanders, breadline, dauberies, desirable, endurable, insurable, laundries, nebulised, unbridles, underlies, unridable, urbanised. | |
-3 letters: abseiled, alieners, arsenide, audibles, baseline, bedrails, beladies, berlines, bilander, blenders, blinders, bluesier, blunders, brandies, brindles, builders, bundlers, daubries, debruise, delaines, denarius, deniable, diurnals, durables, enablers, inbreeds, islander, launders, leisured, linebred, lurdanes, nearside, nebulise, realised, reblends, rebuilds, redlines. | |
| Words containing the letters "a-b-d-e-e-i-l-n-r-s-u" | |
+1 letter: undesirables. | |
+2 letters: undescribable. | |
+3 letters: rediscountable, undiscoverable, unpredictables. | |
+4 letters: refundabilities, undesirableness. | |
+5 letters: denumerabilities, disreputableness, landlubberliness, undesirabilities. | |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. SCRABBLE® is a registered trademark. All intellectual property rights in and to the game are owned in the U.S.A and Canada by Hasbro Inc., and throughout the rest of the world by J.W. Spear & Sons Limited of Maidenhead, Berkshire, England, a subsidiary of Mattel Inc. Mattel and Spear are not affiliated with Hasbro. | |
| 1. Definition 2. Synonyms 3. Crosswords 4. Usage: Modern | 5. Usage: Commercial 6. Images: Photo Album 7. Quotations: Non-fiction 8. Usage Frequency | 9. Expressions 10. Expressions: Internet 11. Translations: Modern 12. Derivations | 13. Rhymes 14. Anagrams 15. Bibliography |
Copyright © Philip M. Parker, INSEAD. Terms of Use.
