unhelpful
uhn-HEHLP-fuhl
Unhelpful (adj) means not providing useful help or assistance. Example: “The customer service rep was polite but completely unhelpful.”
adj
1
Not providing useful help or assistance.
""Did you know, beloved, at the last, in that intolerable heat, in that moment of supreme anguish, that he is unlistening, unhelpful as the stars, that you cried not to him?""
— William Henry Hudson, Green Mansions (1904)
"The customer service rep was polite but completely unhelpful."
"Constant criticism is unhelpful when someone is already trying their best."
How to use unhelpful
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishNot useful or supportive when help is needed.
Common pairings
unhelpful comment
unhelpful advice
find something unhelpful
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more unhelpful
- Superlative
- most unhelpful
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The customer service rep was polite but completely _____.
Etymology
From un- + helpful.
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for unhelpful
See all rhymes for unhelpful →Frequently asked questions
What does “unhelpful” mean?
The word “unhelpful” means not providing useful help or assistance. In plain terms, not useful or supportive when help is needed.
How do you pronounce “unhelpful”?
“Unhelpful” is pronounced uhn-HEHLP-fuhl (/ʌnˈhɛlpfəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “unhelpful” in a sentence?
Here is “unhelpful” used in a sentence: “The customer service rep was polite but completely unhelpful.”
What part of speech is “unhelpful”?
“Unhelpful” is an adjective.
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