immoral

adjective

im·​mor·​al (ˌ)i(m)-ˈmȯr-əl How to pronounce immoral (audio)
-ˈmär-
: not moral
broadly : conflicting with generally or traditionally held moral principles
immorally adverb

Examples of immoral in a Sentence

Don't condemn her: there was nothing immoral about what she did. It was immoral of her to tell lies like that.
Recent Examples on the Web People go into an atrocity-producing situation no more violent, or no more moral or immoral, than you or me. Masha Gessen, The New Yorker, 12 Nov. 2023 Some may regard those goals as justified, and others as immoral and unjustifiable, but those assessments are not relevant to the terrorist designation. Foreign Affairs, 27 Oct. 2023 He was charged with accosting a child for immoral purposes. Marlene Lenthang, NBC News, 5 Oct. 2023 The deputy was charged with one count of accosting a child for immoral purposes. Ben Brasch, Washington Post, 1 Oct. 2023 Today, the most common critique of is that infrastructure targeting, in contrast to counterforce targeting, is immoral and violates the law of armed conflict, which aims to minimize human suffering and the loss of civilian life. Charles L. Glaser, Foreign Affairs, 5 Oct. 2023 There are no heroes in this satire of the lead-up to the Iraq War: Every member of its transatlantic political and military establishment is unscrupulous, stupid, and/or immoral. The New Republic, 22 June 2023 In Nigeria, like in most parts of Africa, homosexuality is generally viewed as immoral on cultural and religious grounds, and the country implemented an anti-gay law in 2014 despite international condemnation. Reuters, NBC News, 19 Sep. 2023 Critics of the aid suspension, including aid groups and health workers, have called it immoral and alleged that hundreds of people have died of hunger. Cara Anna, BostonGlobe.com, 8 Aug. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'immoral.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1660, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of immoral was in 1660

Dictionary Entries Near immoral

Cite this Entry

“Immoral.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/immoral. Accessed 7 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

immoral

adjective
im·​mor·​al (ˈ)im-ˈ(m)ȯr-əl How to pronounce immoral (audio)
-ˈ(m)är-
: not moral : wicked, bad
immorally adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on immoral

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