unpleasantness

English

Etymology

From unpleasant +‎ -ness.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ʌnˈplɛz.ənt.nəs/

Noun

unpleasantness (usually uncountable, plural unpleasantnesses)

  1. (uncountable) The property of being unpleasant or disagreeable.
    • 2023 July 4, Marina Hyde, “Who’s for political Bazball with Rishi? Voters? Tories? Anyone?”, in The Guardian[1]:
      Given the behaviour of the members, who do normally come to Lord’s, this seemed a bizarre attempt to offload the unpleasantness on hoi polloi taking advantage of some rare £25 tickets.
  2. (countable) An unpleasant behaviour, occurrence, etc.
    • 1814 May 9, [Jane Austen], chapter XVI, in Mansfield Park: [], volume I, London: [] [George Sidney] for T[homas] Egerton, [], →OCLC, page 322:
      Perhaps you are not so much aware as I am, of the mischief that may, of the unpleasantnesses that must, arise from a young man’s being received in this manner—domesticated among us—authorized to come at all hours—and placed suddenly on a footing which must do away all restraints.

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