as in foul
not being in accordance with the rules or standards of what is fair in sport
a team that is notorious throughout the league for its record of unfair play
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Recent Examples of unfair
The debate over whether the high school runners in Connecticut had an unfair advantage richocheted around the country, prompting more than half the states to block transgender girls from competing on female teams.
—
Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 10 Jan. 2026
That’s one level of unfair too far for even RuPaul.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 10 Jan. 2026
Individual rights were dramatically expanded, becoming not just a shield against state coercion but a sword to challenge any decision that a person felt was unfair.
—Philip K. Howard, The Atlantic, 10 Jan. 2026
The lawsuit advances several claims for alleged violations of antitrust law and unfair competition, among others.
—Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 9 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unfair
Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 10 Jan. 2026
That’s one level of unfair too far for even RuPaul.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 10 Jan. 2026
Individual rights were dramatically expanded, becoming not just a shield against state coercion but a sword to challenge any decision that a person felt was unfair.
—Philip K. Howard, The Atlantic, 10 Jan. 2026
The lawsuit advances several claims for alleged violations of antitrust law and unfair competition, among others.
—Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 9 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unfair
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unfair
Adjective
-
Four players attempted five or more foul shots.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
14 Jan. 2026
-
The game officials ruled that Gobert impeded Wembanyama's ability to safely land on the follow-through from his jump shot, giving him six flagrant foul points for the season.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
13 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Louisville police say anything that goes into the air or explodes is illegal for average citizens.—
James Bruggers,
The Courier-Journal,
5 July 2017
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Official fireworks shows took place over the city, and illegal pyrotechnics lit up the sky everywhere in between.—
Lisa Beebe,
Los Angeles Magazine,
5 July 2017
Adjective
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Richards has missed Palace’s previous four fixtures after picking up a nasty foot injury against Leeds in the Premier League just before Christmas.—
Greg O'Keeffe,
New York Times,
12 Jan. 2026
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Ra Shaya Kyle, feeling miserable with a nasty cold that kept her out of practice for two days, scored a career-high 30 points to lead the University of Miami women’s basketball team to an 89-73 win over rival Florida State University on Sunday afternoon at the Watsco Center.—
Michelle Kaufman,
Miami Herald,
11 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unfair.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unfair. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
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