Unlovable

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Referring to an individual or object that generally fails to inspire love or attachment in others
2. Characterizing a being or item that often provokes indifference or negative sentiments due to a lack of likability
3. Describes someone or something that tends not to be loved or cherished by others

Etymology: "Unlovable" is a plain formation: the prefix "un-" joined to "lovable," meaning "difficult to love." The prefix comes down from Old English "un-," which meant "not" and was used freely to reverse or negate adjectives, a habit that has carried through English from its earliest records. "Lovable" itself is built from "love" plus the suffix "-able," which signals capability, so "lovable" means capable of being loved, and "unlovable" reverses that to mean not capable of being loved, or difficult to love.

Synonyms: unlikable, repugnant, unappealing, disagreeable, unfriendly

Antonyms: lovable, adorable, charming, endearing, pleasant