ungenial

adjective

un·​ge·​nial ˌən-ˈjēn-yəl How to pronounce ungenial (audio)
-ˈjē-nē-əl
: not genial : not pleasant or cheerful
… in the ungenial climate and soil of New England …Nathaniel Hawthorne
… for having the strength to get up every morning in the '70s and sit opposite the surly and ungenial Harry Reasoner.Lynette Rice
ungenially adverb

Word History

First Known Use

1796, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ungenial was in 1796

Dictionary Entries Near ungenial

Cite this Entry

“Ungenial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ungenial. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on ungenial

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!