unforgiving

unforgiving — 形容詞

1. describes a person who is not willing to let go of their anger or resentment whe

1.形容詞B2
釋義

不寬恕

不願原諒他人的性格特質

describes a person who is not willing to let go of their anger or resentment when someone has done something wrong, and who will not accept an apology or make peace.

例句

Salma's grandfather was an unforgiving man who never spoke to his brother after their argument.

Salma 的祖父是個不寬恕的人，吵架後再也沒跟弟弟說過話。

attributive: unforgiving + noun (person)

The old teacher had an unforgiving attitude toward students who handed in late work.

那位老老師對遲交作業的學生抱持著不寬恕的態度。

unforgiving + attitude toward someone

同義詞
  • vengeful

    implies an active desire to punish or get even, stronger than unforgiving

  • ruthless

    broader — describes a general lack of compassion, not specifically about forgiveness

  • implacable

    more formal; describes anger or opposition that cannot be softened by any appeal

  • spiteful

    focuses on petty, mean-spirited actions rather than holding a grudge

反義詞
  • forgiving

    the direct opposite — willing to pardon and move past an offense

  • merciful

    showing compassion and leniency, especially when one has the power to punish

文法句型

be unforgiving

unforgiving + noun (person)

unforgiving toward/to + person

用法筆記

Frequently describes a lasting personality trait rather than a momentary feeling. Common in attributive position before a noun (an unforgiving person) or predicatively after remain, be, or become.

常見錯誤

❌She was unforgiving and plotted revenge for years.
✅She was vengeful and plotted revenge for years.
💡'unforgiving' means refusing to forgive, not actively seeking revenge.

2. describes a place, situation, or condition that is extremely harsh, demanding, o

2.形容詞C1
釋義

嚴峻

嚴酷苛刻、不容出錯的環境或情況

describes a place, situation, or condition that is extremely harsh, demanding, or dangerous, leaving no room for mistakes or weakness.

例句

The desert is an unforgiving place where water is scarce and temperatures are extreme.

沙漠是個嚴峻的地方，水源稀缺，氣溫極端。

unforgiving place — environment noun collocation

Hyun learned that the construction industry is unforgiving of even small safety mistakes.

Hyun 學到建築業對即使是小的安全失誤也毫不留情。

unforgiving of + [mistakes] — pattern for intolerance

同義詞
  • relentless

    suggests continuous pressure or harshness without pause

  • harsh

    simpler and more common; less literary than unforgiving

  • merciless

    stronger, often personifies the environment as actively cruel

  • demanding

    softer — emphasizes high standards rather than danger

反義詞
  • forgiving

    used in the same sense — a 'forgiving environment' tolerates mistakes

  • lenient

    gentle and permissive, the opposite of harsh

文法句型

unforgiving + noun (environment/place)

be unforgiving

unforgiving of + mistake/weakness

用法筆記

Commonly modifies nouns describing physical environments (terrain, desert, climate, landscape) or demanding situations (industry, market, schedule, competition). The emphasis is on the lack of allowance for error or weakness.

常見錯誤

❌The hiking trail was unforgivable.
✅The hiking trail was unforgiving.
💡'unforgivable' means impossible to excuse; 'unforgiving' means harsh and difficult.

3. describes a piece of clothing or fabric that tends to show every detail of a per

3.形容詞C1
釋義

不修飾

布料或衣物容易顯露身材缺點

describes a piece of clothing or fabric that tends to show every detail of a person's body shape in a way the wearer finds unpleasant or embarrassing.

例句

Tanvi avoided the white dress because the unforgiving fabric showed every curve of her body.

Tanvi 避開那件白色洋裝，因為那不修飾的布料會凸顯她身上的每一道曲線。

unforgiving fabric — clothing noun collocation

Silk can be an unforgiving material for formal wear if you want a smooth silhouette.

如果你想擁有平滑的輪廓，絲綢在正式服裝上可能是不修飾的材質。

unforgiving material — fashion context

同義詞
  • unflattering

    more common in everyday fashion talk; milder than unforgiving

  • revealing

    focuses on showing skin or shape; not necessarily negative

反義詞
  • flattering

    the direct opposite — clothing that makes the wearer look good

  • forgiving

    used in fashion — a 'forgiving fabric' hides body flaws

文法句型

unforgiving + noun (fabric/clothing)

be unforgiving