unhelpful

adjective

un·​help·​ful ˌən-ˈhelp-fəl How to pronounce unhelpful (audio)
Southern often -ˈhep-
also -ˈheəp-
Synonyms of unhelpfulnext
: offering no assistance : not helpful
a rude, unhelpful person
a confusing and unhelpful textbook
unhelpfully adverb
unhelpfulness noun

Examples of unhelpful in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Generally, experts are wary of universally screening men for low testosterone because testosterone measurements can be highly variable—and unhelpful. — Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 15 Oct. 2026 But officers also need to be empowered to recognize when an arrest is unnecessary or unhelpful and to have additional tools for handling those cases. — Mike Hilliard, Baltimore Sun, 13 Oct. 2026 The network starts out with random weights that produce unhelpful queries, keys, and values, and thus poor translations. — Quanta Magazine, 12 Oct. 2026 But when considering your approach, know that what seems logical and well-meaning to you may be unhelpful or even harmful. — Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 6 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unhelpful

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1616, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unhelpful was circa 1616

Rhymes for unhelpful

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Browse Nearby Words

unhelped
unhelpful
unhelping
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Unhelpful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unhelpful. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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