unhealthy

adjective

ˌən-ˈhel-thē How to pronounce unhealthy (audio)
Definition of unhealthynext
1
as in poisonous
bad for the well-being of the body we knew that the junk food at the carnival was unhealthy, but it tasted so good!

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in dangerous
involving potential loss or injury criticism of the military dictatorship has proved to be unhealthy for several of that nation's journalists

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in sick
temporarily suffering from a disorder of the body she's been unhealthy for almost a week now

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of unhealthy Due to the growing Gann Fire, much of the Sierra foothills will experience unhealthy AQI values over the coming days. — Sean MacAday, Sacbee.com, 5 Aug. 2026 This means that Philly residents face unhealthy air exposure throughout the year. — Mahbubur Meenar, The Conversation, 5 Aug. 2026 It’s commonly seen as too loud, too expensive, too unhealthy, too environmentally unfriendly, and an unnecessary eyesore that requires a lot of red tape between landlords and city permits to procure. — Morgan Simon, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026 The air district is warning residents that wildfire smoke contains fine particulate matter and other harmful pollutants, adding that exposure is unhealthy, even for short periods of time. — Tim Fang, CBS News, 4 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unhealthy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unhealthy
  1. poisonous
  2. dangerous
  3. sick
  4. toxic
  5. hazardous
  6. bad
  7. unhealthful
  8. risky
Adjective
  • For this reason, these poisonous mushrooms are more commonly confused with other types of edible mushrooms like chicken of the woods and chanterelles (more on these in a minute).
    — Katie Hill, Outdoor Life, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Perhaps ducks had been used as bio-processors, feeding on toads and metabolizing their poisonous compounds so that humans could safely consume them.
    — Kimon de Greef, Longreads, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of poisonous
Adjective
  • On Sunday, storms brought dangerous flash flooding to the area around the Aspen Acres burn scar.
    — Christa Swanson, CBS News, 17 Aug. 2026
  • That makes the world a more dangerous place, where a mistake by just one actor could ignite a regional firestorm, with a US military weakened by Iran unable to ensure American security.
    — Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of dangerous
Adjective
  • Between 60% and 70% of new Ebola cases are being detected among people who were not already being monitored as contacts, meaning health workers may only discover infections after patients become sick and have had opportunities to expose others.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026
  • News host had brain surgery to remove a tumor, her mother got diagnosed with brain cancer, her younger brother, Peter, suffered injuries from a car accident, and her father got very sick a week before her wedding.
    — Diane J. Cho, PEOPLE, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of sick
Adjective
  • Turn on any cable news network, and the national political landscape can look like a toxic wasteland, defined by vitriol, outrage, even allegations of treason.
    — Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Hartford Courant, 13 Aug. 2026
  • One of Howell's most valuable insights was recognizing that demanding leadership is not the same as toxic leadership.
    — Mark Nevins, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of toxic
Adjective
  • The combination of volcanic activity and sudden weather changes can make conditions on the mountain particularly hazardous.
    — Anna Matranga, CBS News, 17 Aug. 2026
  • The destruction of the ozone layer would allow hazardous ultraviolet radiation to rain down on the planet, adding to the series of climate cataclysms that would threaten civilization and most life on Earth.
    — Kevin Holden Platt, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of hazardous
Adjective
  • Sensing a disconnect or worse, a feeling of being forgotten, Campbell this summer invited some of the men who wrote those letters to campus.
    — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Dry weather periods are expected in Colorado, and wildfires tend to be worse during these times.
    — Callie Zanandrie, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of bad
Adjective
  • Warnings of unhealthful air quality remained in effect Saturday across a wide swath of the United States due to smoke from Canadian wildfires that has engulfed the Northeast in haze for days.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 18 July 2026
  • The soil may contain pathogens, pesticides and other unhealthful things.
    — Joan Morris, Mercury News, 9 Feb. 2026
Definition of unhealthful
Adjective
  • Chaudry sees studios bringing on creators not just as a way to hedge risky bets; these are people with dedicated audiences who will follow.
    — Elisabeth Garber-Paul, Rolling Stone, 10 Aug. 2026
  • That's why simply waiting for a creditor to give up and forgive your debts can be risky.
    — Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of risky

Browse Nearby Words

unhealthiness
unhealthy
unheard-of
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Cite this Entry

“Unhealthy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unhealthy. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

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