unwise

adjective

un·​wise ˌən-ˈwīz 

: lacking wisdom or good sense : foolish, imprudent

an unwise decision

unwisely adverb

Synonyms of unwise

• foolish
• stupid
• silly
• absurd
• insane
• mad
• crazy

Examples of unwise in a Sentence

It would be unwise to buy a house now.

made the unwise decision to invest in a brand-new company

Recent Examples on the Web

If a man is thought-free, fancy-free, imagination-free, that which is not never for a long time appearing to be to him, unwise rulers or reformers cannot fatally interrupt him. — René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Oct. 2026

The village’s colonial founders were unwise to set their community on the river. — Abe Streep, ProPublica, 21 Oct. 2026

Willis at times has shown an aversion for check-downs and instead has attempted riskier or unwise throws, something that happened multiple times in Sunday’s 31-24 loss to Cincinnati. — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 11 Oct. 2026

Georgia’s early and mail votes, by race Even these comparisons can be unwise, however. — New York Times, 9 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for unwise

• advise
• applies
• apprise
• arise
• assize
• baptize
• belies
• bitwise
• capsize
• chastise
• chordwise
• clockwise

Kids Definition

unwise

adjective

un·​wise ˌən-ˈwīz 

ˈən-

: not wise : foolish

unwisely adverb