unhealthy
adjective
un·healthy
ˌən-ˈhel-thē 
unhealthier; unhealthiest
1
: not conducive to health : not healthful
an unhealthy climate
unhealthy habits
unhealthy foods
Synonyms
Examples of unhealthy in a Sentence
Her skin looks blotchy and unhealthy.
Tests revealed an unhealthy level of lead in the water.
Eating honey can be unhealthy for babies.
He was stuck in an unhealthy relationship.
She has an unhealthy interest in natural disasters.
Recent Examples on the Web
More on your favorite food:Why do some think potatoes are unhealthy?
—
Clare Mulroy, USA TODAY, 7 Apr. 2024
Your trauma history and your past experiences with unhealthy relationship dynamics can make this work hard, so don’t be afraid to talk to a professional or a mental health support to learn new ways of healing forward beyond toxic relationships.
—Dominique Fluker, Essence, 5 Apr. 2024
Children with weak executive functions fare poorly in school, and are socially and physically unhealthy.
—Marc D. Hauser, TIME, 3 Apr. 2024
Most men search for a product that works well to keep their hair clean and not look a mess or unhealthy.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
Frequently eating rice for multiple meals a day may be unhealthy, particularly for infants and children, whose bodies can be more sensitive to overexposure, Sass said.
—Sarah Garone, Health, 30 Mar. 2024
Experts agree plastic surgery and other cosmetic procedures are nothing to be ashamed of, and that transparency among celebrities is critical to dismantling unhealthy beauty norms.
—USA TODAY, 22 Mar. 2024
Capstan is developing therapies that modulate unhealthy cells inside the body — rather than editing the cells outside of the body — through RNA delivery methods.
—Natallie Rocha, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Mar. 2024
Last month, Thai authorities ordered government employees to work from home due to unhealthy levels of pollution in the capital Bangkok and surrounding areas, according to Reuters.
—Helen Regan, CNN, 19 Mar. 2024
Clare Mulroy, USA TODAY, 7 Apr. 2024
Your trauma history and your past experiences with unhealthy relationship dynamics can make this work hard, so don’t be afraid to talk to a professional or a mental health support to learn new ways of healing forward beyond toxic relationships.
—Dominique Fluker, Essence, 5 Apr. 2024
Children with weak executive functions fare poorly in school, and are socially and physically unhealthy.
—Marc D. Hauser, TIME, 3 Apr. 2024
Most men search for a product that works well to keep their hair clean and not look a mess or unhealthy.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
Frequently eating rice for multiple meals a day may be unhealthy, particularly for infants and children, whose bodies can be more sensitive to overexposure, Sass said.
—Sarah Garone, Health, 30 Mar. 2024
Experts agree plastic surgery and other cosmetic procedures are nothing to be ashamed of, and that transparency among celebrities is critical to dismantling unhealthy beauty norms.
—USA TODAY, 22 Mar. 2024
Capstan is developing therapies that modulate unhealthy cells inside the body — rather than editing the cells outside of the body — through RNA delivery methods.
—Natallie Rocha, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Mar. 2024
Last month, Thai authorities ordered government employees to work from home due to unhealthy levels of pollution in the capital Bangkok and surrounding areas, according to Reuters.
—Helen Regan, CNN, 19 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'unhealthy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1595, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Dictionary Entries Near unhealthy
Cite this Entry
“Unhealthy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unhealthy. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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More from Merriam-Webster on unhealthy
Nglish: Translation of unhealthy for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of unhealthy for Arabic Speakers
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