unappetizing
/ˌʌnˈæpɪtaɪzɪŋ/adjective★Intermediate
informal
Not appealing or attractive to eat; causing a lack of desire to consume food.
The leftover pizza in the fridge looked unappetizing after three days.
The food at the buffet was unappetizing, so I only had a small salad.
💡
Often used to describe food that appears spoiled, poorly prepared, or visually unappealing.
Collocations
unappetizing appearancea visual quality that makes food look undesirableunappetizing smellan odor that makes food seem inedible
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related Phrases
turn one's stomachidiom
to cause disgust or nausea
make your mouth wateridiom
to make someone very hungry
💡Pro Tip
Usage Tip
Use 'unappetizing' to describe food that looks or smells unappealing, not necessarily bad-tasting.
⚡Gold Rule
Avoid Overuse
Use sparingly to maintain impact, as excessive use can dilute its meaning.
📖Word Origin
From 'un-' (not) + 'appetizing' (arousing appetite), with 'appetizing' derived from 'appetite' (desire to eat).
📝Usage Notes
Commonly used in casual conversation to describe food that looks or smells unpleasant.
Word Breakdown
un-
not
prefixappetizing
arousing appetite
rootEnglish Dictionary