Meaning & use
unsought
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Meaning
adjectivenot comparableformalliterary
Not looked for or asked for; happening without being wanted or expected.
Grammar: Used before a noun or after a linking verb: unsought advice; the attention was unsought.
Patterns
- unsought advice
- unsought attention
- unsought fame
She gave him unsought advice about his career, which he did not appreciate.
The politician received unsought attention from the media after the scandal.
Fame was unsought by the shy author, who preferred a quiet life.
Common combinations
- unsought advice
- He ignored the unsought advice from his colleagues.
- unsought attention
- The actress found the unsought attention overwhelming.
- unsought fame
- The scientist achieved unsought fame after the discovery.
Synonyms and how they differ
- unwanted
- Unwanted is more common and direct; unsought is more formal and suggests something not actively looked for.
- uninvited
- Uninvited specifically means not invited, while unsought is broader and can refer to anything not asked for.
- unrequested
- Unrequested is close in meaning but more neutral and technical; unsought often carries a hint of being unwelcome.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: unsought or unsought-after?
unsought vs unsought-after
This is not a standard word; the usual phrase is 'not sought after' or 'unsought'.
Practice
Choose the sentence that uses 'unsought' correctly.
Choose one answer.
Unsought is an adjective meaning not asked for; option 1 uses it correctly before a noun. Options 0, 2, and 3 use it as a verb, which is incorrect.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “unsought”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.