Synonyms
- balmy
- barmy [chiefly British]
- bats
- batty
- bedlam
- bonkers
- brainsick
- bughouse [slang]
- certifiable
- crackbrained
- cracked
- crackers
- crackpot
- cranky [dialect]
- crazed
- crazy
- cuckoo
- daffy
- daft
- demented
- deranged
- fruity [slang]
- gaga
- haywire
- insane
- kooky
- kookie
- loco [slang]
- loony
- looney
- loony tunes
- looney tunes
- lunatic
- mad
- maniacal
- maniac
- mental
- meshuga
- meshugge
- meshugah
- meshuggah
- moonstruck
- non compos mentis
- nuts
- nutty
- psycho
- psychotic
- scatty [chiefly British]
- screwy
- unbalanced
- unhinged
- wacko
- whacko
- wacky
- whacky
- wud [chiefly Scottish]
Examples of unsound in a Sentence
The roof is structurally unsound.
disgruntled relatives tried to prove that the woman was of unsound mind when she made her will
Recent Examples on the Web
Eugenics was debunked as both biologically unsound and morally repugnant decades ago, but Donald Trump has repackaged its key lies to appeal to 21st-century American anxieties.
—Arthur Caplan, Scientific American, 17 Oct. 2024
After Otieno appeared limp, a nurse did not check for signs of life but injected him with a sedating mix of drugs that were later listed in court filings, according to video and experts, who described the action as medically unsound.
—Samuel Oakford, Washington Post, 26 July 2024
That’s unsound legal ground, argued Donald Tobin, a professor and former dean of the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law.
—Emily Opilo, Baltimore Sun, 18 July 2024
People in an area where a thunderstorm warning has been issued should remove themselves from unsound buildings and find substantial shelter, according to the NWS.
—James Powel, USA TODAY, 30 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for unsound
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'unsound.' 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
14th century, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of unsound was
in the 14th century
Phrases Containing unsound
Dictionary Entries Near unsound
Cite this Entry
“Unsound.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unsound. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.
Kids Definition
unsound
adjective
un·sound
ˌən-ˈsau̇nd
ˈən-
1
: not healthy or whole
an unsound horse
2
: not mentally normal : not wholly sane
of unsound mind
3
: not firmly made, placed, or fixed
an unsound structure
4
: not based on truth or logic
unsound arguments
unsoundness
noun
-ˈsau̇n(d)-nəs
Medical Definition
unsound
adjective
un·sound
-ˈsau̇nd
: not sound: as
a
: not healthy or whole
an unsound limb
an unsound horse
b
: not mentally normal : not wholly sane
of unsound mind
c
: not fit to be eaten
unsound food
unsoundness
noun
Legal Definition
unsound
adjective
un·sound
ˌən-ˈsau̇nd
: not sound: as
a
: not healthy or whole
b
: not mentally normal : not wholly sane
of unsound mind
c
: not firmly made, placed, or fixed
d
: not valid or true
an unsound argument
unsoundly
adverb
unsoundness
noun
More from Merriam-Webster on unsound
Nglish: Translation of unsound for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of unsound for Arabic Speakers
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