Ongewenste

Ongewenste is a Dutch adjective meaning not wanted or undesired. It is used to describe things, actions, or conditions that are considered inappropriate, intrusive, or unwanted. The term appears in everyday speech as well as in formal contexts such as law, policy, and media. Common collocations include ongewenste aandacht (unwanted attention), ongewenste berichten or e-mails (unwanted messages, spam), ongewenste bijwerkingen (unwanted side effects), and ongewenste consequenties (unwanted consequences).

Etymology and form: ongewenste is derived from the verb wensen (to wish or want) with the prefix on- to express negation, together with the past participle gewenst (desired). The resulting adjective can take different endings depending on the noun it modifies. In many standard phrases, it appears as ongewenste followed by a plural or definite noun, such as ongewenste gevolgen or ongewenste berichten. In other constructions, the shorter form ongewenst may be used, for example in ongewenst gedrag.

Usage notes: The term carries a negative assessment but remains a neutral descriptive label rather than a value judgment about the person involved. It is often used to describe unsolicited or uninvited phenomena, such as unsolicited contact, intrusions into privacy, or unapproved practices. In Dutch, synonyms or near-synonyms include niet gewenst and onaangenaam, while the opposite concept is gewenst or welkom in appropriate contexts.

See also: gewenst (the opposite), niet gewenst (not desired), and related legal or policy terms addressing unsolicited or intrusive actions.