Standard Lemma guide

uncalled-for

adj · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • General-American: /ʌnˈkɔld.foɹ/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Unwanted; not requested or required.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adj

Meaning 2

Unwarranted, disproportionate, or inappropriate; not deserved or justified, especially when rude or offensive.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • That nasty remark was uncalled-for.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

adjective satellite

Meaning 3

unnecessary and unwarranted

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • a strikers' tent camp...was burned with needless loss of life

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: gratuitous, needless

Antonyms: none provided

4

adjective satellite

Meaning 4

not required or requested

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • uncalled-for suggestions

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From un- + called for.

Across languages

Translations

12 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: неуместен (neumesten) — unwarranted
  • Danish: umotiveret — unwarranted
  • Danish: malplaceret — unwarranted
  • Danish: unødvendig — unwarranted
  • French: déplacé — unwarranted
  • French: injustifié — unwarranted
  • Greek: απρόκλητος (apróklitos) — unwarranted
  • Italian: ingiustificato — unwarranted
  • Italian: immotivato — unwarranted
  • Spanish: gratuito — unwarranted
  • Spanish: innecesario — unwarranted
  • Spanish: improcedente — unwarranted