What does undesirably mean?
Undesirably is an adverb meaning in a way that is unwanted, harmful, or otherwise considered undesirable. It is the adverbial counterpart of the adjective undesirable and is commonly used to characterize a condition that has reached an excessive or problematic degree, as in "undesirably high temperatures" or "undesirably affected communities." Its tone is generally neutral but evaluative, and it appears frequently in reports, academic writing, journalism, and technical discussion. The word is especially useful because it does more than merely say that something happened badly: it identifies the result or manner as one that warrants concern or corrective action. Although understandable in everyday speech, undesirably often sounds more formal than similarly broad alternatives such as badly. It is used in standard British and American English without significant regional difference.
adverbIn a way that is considered undesirable; to an extent or degree that is unwanted or detrimental.
- In a way that is undesirable or detrimental.
"The factory's operating costs have become undesirably high."
"Rainfall was undesirably high during the critical growing period."
"The aging equipment has become undesirably expensive to maintain."
When something becomes "undesirably high," the word signals more than bad luck: a level that may require action.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does undesirably come from?
Undesirably was formed by adding the adverbial suffix -ly to undesirable, which combines the negative prefix un- with desirable. Its vocabulary roots ultimately lead to Latin desiderare, meaning to wish or desire; related English forms include desire, desirable, and desirous. The prefix reverses the favorable sense of desirable, and -ly converts the resulting adjective into an adverb.
How undesirably is actually used
This adverb has a neutral-to-formal, evaluative tone and is especially common in analytical, technical, and environmental writing. It frequently modifies adjectives such as high, low, affected, difficult, and dependent.
Easily confused with undesirably
Undesirable is an adjective that describes a person, thing, or situation, whereas undesirably is an adverb describing how something happens.