Unpalatable means so unpleasant to taste or accept that you don't want anything to do with it. The word literally describes food that tastes so bad you can't bring yourself to eat it: burnt oatmeal might be unpalatable, or cafeteria fish that's been sitting too long. Your little brother might find vegetables unpalatable, pushing his plate away in disgust.

But the word reaches beyond taste. An idea can be unpalatable when it's so unappealing or uncomfortable that people reject it. Imagine your teacher announces that recess will be canceled for a month: that's an unpalatable decision. When a scientist presents evidence that contradicts what people want to believe, they might find the truth unpalatable, even though it's accurate.

The word combines “un” (not) with “palatable,” which comes from “palate,” meaning the roof of your mouth and your sense of taste. Something palatable is pleasant enough to accept or swallow. Something unpalatable makes you want to turn away, whether it's nasty-tasting medicine or an unwelcome fact you'd rather not face.