ill-advised

adjective

ill-ad·​vised ˌil-əd-ˈvīzd How to pronounce ill-advised (audio)
Synonyms of ill-advisednext
: resulting from or showing lack of wise and sufficient counsel or deliberation
an ill-advised decision
ill-advisedly adverb

Examples of ill-advised in a Sentence

an ill-advised criticism of the boss at a company function
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.
But his goalie interference penalty in the opening period was ill-advised. Arpon Basu, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2026 Plenty of unconventional solutions have sprung up as a result, from the ill-advised and frightening (please don’t scoop out your period) to the innocuous and accessible—like seed cycling, or, more recently, the period steak theory. Audrey Bruno, SELF, 19 Feb. 2026 But others criticized Jackson, calling his action ill-timed and ill-advised. Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026 They’re further complicated by the fact that the United States’ infrastructure has glaring weak points, making the simplest solution of hauling more weight ill-advised at best. Caleb Jacobs, The Drive, 4 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ill-advised

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1593, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ill-advised was circa 1593

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ill-advised.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ill-advised. Accessed 25 Feb. 2026.

Kids Definition

ill-advised

adjective
ill-ad·​vised
ˌil-əd-ˈvīzd
: showing bad advice or too little thinking ahead
an ill-advised decision
ill-advisedly
-ˈvī-zəd-lē
adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on ill-advised

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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