undesirable
not wanted because harmful or bad
Not wanted because it is bad, harmful, or causes problems.
be undesirable for [someone/something]
- The report warns that rising prices could have undesirable effects on low‑income families.
- Eating late at night is undesirable if you are trying to lose weight.
- Leaving personal data unprotected online is highly undesirable from a security point of view.
- The new law aims to reduce undesirable behavior in crowded city centers.
- They decided that further delays would be undesirable for the project.
- Smoking has many undesirable effects on your health.
- The manager thinks it is undesirable to work so many extra hours.
- Loud noise at night is undesirable for people who live nearby.
- Heavy traffic is undesirable in quiet residential streets.
- It is undesirable to share your password with anyone.
socially or morally not acceptable
Not accepted by society or by a group, often used about people or actions that are not welcome.
describe [someone/something] as undesirable
- The government promised to remove undesirable elements from the city center.
- Some landlords try to avoid renting to people they see as undesirable tenants.
- The club has the right to refuse entry to anyone considered undesirable.
- They argued that the policy would keep out socially undesirable groups.
- He was labeled an undesirable influence on younger students.
- The police want to keep undesirable people away from the stadium.
- The company does not want any undesirable media attention.
- They see drug dealers as undesirable members of the community.
- The school tries to stop undesirable behavior among students.
- Some countries refuse visas to people they call undesirable.
person seen as socially unwelcome
A person who is not wanted or accepted by a group, community, or government.
[someone] is considered an undesirable
- During the crackdown, many political activists were branded undesirables and deported.
- The regime treated journalists as undesirables who threatened public order.
- After the incident, he quickly became an undesirable in his former social circle.
- Authorities claimed they were simply removing undesirables from the tourist areas.
- The new rules make it easier for officials to label migrants as undesirables.
- The government called some refugees undesirables.
- In that town, people who are homeless are often seen as undesirables.
- After the scandal, she felt like an undesirable at work.
- They want to move all the so‑called undesirables out of the city center.
- The club says it has the right to refuse undesirables.
- Base: undesirable
- Base: undesirable
- Plural: undesirables
classed as undesirable
1officially categorized as unwelcome
Officially said to be not welcome or not acceptable, often by a government or organization.
- Many political opponents were classed as undesirable and denied entry to the country.
- Certain breeds of dogs are classed as undesirable under the new law.
- Applicants with a criminal record may be classed as undesirable by some landlords.
socially undesirable
1not accepted by society
Not accepted or approved by most people in a society.
- Smoking in public places has become socially undesirable in many countries.
- The campaign aims to make drunk driving socially undesirable.
- Certain forms of discrimination are now widely seen as socially undesirable.
undesirable consequences
1negative results that are not wanted
Bad results of an action or decision that people did not want to happen.
- Cutting the budget too quickly could have undesirable consequences for public services.
- The new technology may bring benefits but also some undesirable consequences.
- They warned that ignoring the problem would lead to undesirable consequences later.
undesirable elements
1people seen as harmful or unwelcome
People or groups that authorities or local people do not want in a place, because they think they are harmful or cause problems.
- The authorities say the new law will help remove undesirable elements from the neighborhood.
- Some fear that the policy will be used to target political opponents as undesirable elements.
- The mayor promised to crack down on what he called undesirable elements in the city center.
undesirable side effects
1side effects that are not wanted
Extra effects of a medicine, action, or change that are not wanted, because they are bad or harmful.
- This medicine may cause undesirable side effects such as headaches or nausea.
- The policy change could have undesirable side effects on small businesses.
- They are testing a new drug that has fewer undesirable side effects.