Unlikable means difficult to like or lacking qualities that make people want to be around you. An unlikable character in a story might be cruel, selfish, or constantly complaining. An unlikable person in real life might interrupt others, brag all the time, or treat people rudely.

The word describes someone whose personality or behavior pushes others away rather than drawing them closer. A character can be unlikable but interesting: think of Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol before his transformation, or Draco Malfoy's sneering cruelty in the Harry Potter books. These characters work in stories precisely because their unlikability creates conflict and tension.

Sometimes people seem temporarily unlikable when they're having a bad day or feeling insecure. Someone might act unlikable by showing off after winning, refusing to share credit for group work, or making mean jokes at others' expense. A genuinely unlikable person doesn't seem to notice or care how their actions affect others, while most people occasionally slip up but try to do better.