unwanted

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "unwanted" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is not desired or is considered undesirable in various contexts, such as relationships, possessions, or situations. Example: "The unwanted noise from the construction site made it difficult to concentrate on my work."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The boom in gift cards is a kind of socially tolerable version of this: the cards are somehow more personal than cash, and they're also not going to be wasted on an unwanted gift.

The Economist

They spoke about the sale of some unwanted tickets that were returned to Match by a hotel group.

The Guardian - Sport

We left the Mad Men universe with Don, moving from a group therapy session in which a man named Leonard told him about a dream of being left unwanted in a fridge, to Draper meditating on the cliffs of Big Sur.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Such control would be clumsy and expensive and involve a new shadow frontier with western Ukraine that could be a continued source of unwanted, as opposed to manipulated, troubles.

The Guardian - Opinion

The authors suggest that a similar strategy could be used to reduce other kinds of unwanted social biases and stigmas or even help bad habits such as smoking or eating unhealthily.

The Guardian

In a commentary accompanying the paper, two other psychologists, Gordon Feld and Jan Born, write: "The findings highlight the breadth of possible applications to permanently modify any unwanted behaviour by targeted memory reactivation during sleep".

The Guardian

John Crace in the Guardian, like Treneman, was unconvinced about the purpose of manifestos, calling them "booklets full of promises that will be broken that turn up unwanted on voters' doorsteps and remain unread".

The Guardian

This September, an NUS survey revealed that 37% of women at UK universities have been subject to unwanted sexual advances, and the 2010 Hidden Marks report found that 1 in 7 had experienced serious sexual or physical violence and 68% had been sexually harassed.

The Guardian

But every escape contains its own confinement, and the escape from obscurity to a global reputation has brought unwanted attention and preoccupying commitments to the business of bookselling.

The Guardian - Books

"It's too early to talk of a turnaround," said Van de Vaart, who will do well to shed the unwanted messiah-tag after this minor miracle.

The Guardian - Sport

Hotels group Intercontinental Hotels was also unwanted, down 85p to £22.44.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "unwanted" to describe feelings or emotions, ensure the context clearly indicates whose feelings are being referred to. For example, specify "unwanted attention" rather than simply stating "attention".

Common error

While "unwanted" is generally acceptable, overuse in highly formal documents can sound less professional. In such cases, consider stronger alternatives like "undesirable" or "unsolicited" for a more polished tone.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "unwanted" is as an adjective, modifying nouns to indicate that something is not desired or welcome. As seen in Ludwig, the phrase is frequently used to describe things like "unwanted attention" or "unwanted pregnancies."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "unwanted" functions primarily as an adjective to denote something not desired or welcome, effectively conveying a negative sentiment. As highlighted by Ludwig, this term is grammatically correct and frequently used across diverse contexts such as News & Media, Formal & Business, and Science. While versatile, it's advisable to consider alternatives like "undesired" or "unsolicited" in particularly formal settings. With its neutral register and widespread usage, "unwanted" remains a reliable choice for expressing a lack of desire or acceptance. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is considered appropriate in most situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

undesired

Emphasizes a lack of desire or preference for something.

unwelcome

Highlights that something is not welcome or pleasing.

undesirable

Focuses on the negative qualities or consequences of something.

unsolicited

Indicates that something was not asked for or requested.

unasked-for

Similar to unsolicited, but with a slightly more informal tone.

rejected

Implies a more active refusal or dismissal.

uninvited

Specifically refers to someone or something not having been invited.

dispensable

Suggests that something is not essential or necessary.

extraneous

Highlights that something is irrelevant or not pertinent.

gratuitous

Suggests that something is excessive or uncalled for.

FAQs

How to use "unwanted" in a sentence?

The term "unwanted" can be used to describe something that is not desired or welcome. For example, "She received "unwanted attention" from the press" or "The company had to deal with "unwanted side effects" of the new policy".

What can I say instead of "unwanted"?

You can use alternatives like "undesired", "unwelcome", or "undesirable" depending on the context. Each alternative carries a slightly different nuance.

Which is correct, "unwanted attention" or "undesired attention"?

Both "unwanted attention" and "undesired attention" are grammatically correct and understandable. However, "unwanted attention" is more commonly used and might sound more natural to native English speakers.

What's the difference between "unwanted" and "unsolicited"?

"Unwanted" generally means not desired or not welcome, whereas "unsolicited" specifically means not asked for or requested. For example, "unsolicited advice" is advice that was not asked for, while "unwanted advice" is advice that, regardless of whether it was asked for, is not welcome.