unaspiring

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   lacking ambition or a desire for advancement

   The unaspiring official preferred quiet service to public acclaim.

A transparent formation from un- + aspiring, literally 'not aspiring.' Aspire comes from Latin aspirare, 'to breathe toward,' which developed the figurative meaning 'to strive toward or seek to attain.' Unaspiring negates that striving sense.

Topics