unethical

adjective

un·​eth·​i·​cal ˌən-ˈe-thi-kəl How to pronounce unethical (audio)
Synonyms of unethical
: not conforming to a high moral standard : morally wrong : not ethical
illegal and unethical business practices
immoral and unethical behavior
unethically adverb

Examples of unethical in a Sentence

unethical treatment of prisoners of war that was a clear violation of international law an unethical attorney, he had no qualms about getting off clients who he knew were guilty
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The move triggered immediate uproar, with some charging that such invisible guardrails were unfair and unethical. Jared Perlo, NBC news, 11 June 2026 So much of it comes down to economics, to not being freed from unethical labor practices. Literary Hub, 9 June 2026 But if glucosamine may increase the risk of dementia, giving patients glucosamine would be unethical. Ramon Sun, The Conversation, 9 June 2026 Still, the plan has sparked fierce backlash from animal-rights advocates, who argue the mass killing campaign is both unethical and ineffective. Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 9 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for unethical

Word History

First Known Use

1871, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unethical was in 1871

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Cite this Entry

“Unethical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unethical. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.

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