25 words starting with U

• ubiquitous adjective

  seeming to be found everywhere at the same time

  Mobile phones are ubiquitous, even in small mountain villages.

  Like omnipresent, pervasive, universal

• unanimous adjective

  agreed on by everyone in a group

  The class made a unanimous decision to visit the zoo.

  Like united, undivided, agreed

• unassuming adjective

  modest and not wanting attention

  The unassuming scientist never talked about her many awards.

  Like modest, humble, unpretentious

• unbridled adjective

  not controlled or held back

  The children ran onto the beach with unbridled joy.

  Like unrestrained, uncontrolled, wild

• uncanny adjective

  strange and hard to explain, sometimes in an unsettling way

  The twins have an uncanny ability to know what the other is thinking.

  Like eerie, strange, remarkable

• unconventional adjective

  not following the usual way of doing things

  The teacher used an unconventional method, teaching math through cooking.

  Like unusual, unorthodox, original

• underscore verb

  to emphasize or show the importance of something; to draw a line under

  The flood underscored the need for better drains in the city.

  Like emphasize, highlight, stress

• understated adjective

  presented in a quiet, simple way that does not seek attention

  Her understated dress looked elegant at the school ceremony.

  Like subtle, restrained, low-key

• undeterred adjective

  continuing despite problems or warnings

  Undeterred by the rain, the runners finished the race.

  Like unshaken, undaunted, resolute

• unequivocal adjective

  completely clear, leaving no doubt

  The answer was an unequivocal “yes.”

  Like clear, definite, unambiguous

• unfathomable adjective

  impossible to understand or measure fully

  The size of the universe is unfathomable to most of us.

  Like incomprehensible, immeasurable, baffling

• unflappable adjective

  staying calm even in difficult or stressful situations

  Our unflappable pilot landed smoothly through strong winds.

  Like calm, composed, cool

• unilateral adjective

  done by one side or person without agreement from the others

  My brother made a unilateral decision to change the TV channel.

  Like one-sided

• unprecedented adjective

  never having happened or been done before

  The heat this summer was unprecedented in the town’s records.

  Like unheard-of, unparalleled

• unruly adjective

  disorderly and hard to control

  Her unruly hair would not stay in place in the wind.

  Like disorderly, wild, rowdy

• unscathed adjective

  not harmed or damaged at all

  The bus slid off the road, but all the passengers walked away unscathed.

  Like unharmed, unhurt, intact

• unscrupulous adjective

  willing to act dishonestly or unfairly to get what one wants

  An unscrupulous seller tried to charge tourists double the price.

  Like dishonest, unprincipled, shady

• unsubstantiated adjective

  not supported or proved by evidence

  The story about a ghost in the library is unsubstantiated.

  Like unproven, unconfirmed, baseless

• untenable adjective

  unable to be defended or kept up

  His argument became untenable once the new data appeared.

  Like indefensible, unsustainable, unsound

• unwarranted adjective

  not justified or deserved

  The criticism of her careful work was unwarranted.

  Like unjustified, uncalled-for, undeserved

• unwieldy adjective

  hard to carry, move, or manage because of size, shape, or complexity

  The huge map was unwieldy to open on the windy hilltop.

  Like cumbersome, awkward, bulky

• unwitting adjective

  not aware of what one is doing or of what is happening

  By leaving the gate open, I became an unwitting helper in the goats’ escape.

  Like unaware, unknowing, unintentional

• uphold verb

  to support or keep something, such as a rule or tradition, in place

  The judges upheld the decision to give first prize to our school.

  Like support, maintain, defend

• utilitarian adjective

  designed to be useful and practical rather than attractive

  The utilitarian school building had plain walls and wide windows.

  Like practical, functional, useful

• utopia noun

  an imagined perfect place where everyone is happy

  The novel describes a utopia with clean air and no poverty.

  Like paradise, ideal world