unfriendly

Everyday

1. Unfriendly means not kind or welcoming, not wanting to be nice to other people. tree →
2. Unfriendly can describe a place or thing that is hard or not safe, like an unfriendly climate. tree →
3. In compounds, «-unfriendly» means bad for something, like «environment-unfriendly» or «user-unfriendly». tree →

In the lessons

In PSHE and friendship lessons, children learn that being unfriendly can make others feel left out, and that someone who seems unfriendly may be shy or upset. In safety, an unfriendly dog may growl or show its teeth, so keep away. In stories, an unfriendly stranger or neighbour sets up a problem. Opposite: friendly.

Examples

• The new boy wasn't unfriendly, just shy. tree →
• The dog looked unfriendly, so we didn't pat it. tree →
• It was an unfriendly place with no shade or water. tree →
• She gave me an unfriendly look. tree →
• Ignoring people is unfriendly. tree →
• The desert is an unfriendly place for most plants. tree →
• Try to welcome new pupils so no one feels the class is unfriendly. tree →
• The shopkeeper was unfriendly and grumpy. tree →

Note

It is «un-» + «friendly». Though it ends in -ly, it is an adjective, not an adverb: «He was unfriendly», not «He spoke unfriendly» (say «in an unfriendly way»).