unconscionable

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adjective un·con·scio·na·ble \ˌən-ˈkän(t)-sh(ə-)nə-bəl\

Definition of unconscionable

1 : not guided or controlled by conscience : unscrupulous an unconscionable villain
2a : excessive, unreasonable found an unconscionable number of defects in the carb : shockingly unfair or unjust unconscionable sales practices

unconscionability

play \ˌən-ˌkän(t)-sh(ə-)nə-ˈbi-lə-tē\ noun

unconscionableness

play \ˌən-ˈkän(t)-sh(ə-)nə-bəl-nəs\ noun

unconscionably

play \ˌən-ˈkän(t)-sh(ə-)nə-blē\ adverb

See unconscionable defined for English-language learners

See unconscionable defined for kids

Examples of unconscionable in a Sentence

They have had to endure unconscionable delays.
an unconscionable number of errors for an important government report

Recent Examples of unconscionable from the Web

Kennedy had headed south in response to a report by civil rights attorney Marian Wright that detailed levels of childhood hunger unconscionable in the richest nation on earth.

— Time, "Donald Trump’s Budget Cuts Would Leave Many Americans Hungry", 29 June 2017
Those of us who are parents shouldn’t be the only ones who find that unconscionable.

— Vanities, "Chelsea Clinton Stayed Unfailingly on Message at the City Harvest Gala", 26 Apr. 2017
In a guest commentary, three Denver physicians wrote that stripping health care from 20 million people — which is what what happen if Obamacare were repealed — is unconscionable.

— cohen peart, The Denver Post, "Sound Off: The Denver Post opinion newsletter: Feb. 27, 2017", 27 Feb. 2017
The Bears are good, but their state tournament victories of 3-0 and 4-1 were far from unconscionable blowouts.

— john shipley, Twin Cities, "John Shipley: Should Blake opt up to Class 2A? That’s up to Blake", 24 Feb. 2017
But the notion that ratepayers should pay even part of the penalty for PG&E’s misdeeds remains unconscionable.

— mercury news editorial board, The Mercury News, "Editorial: Don’t make ratepayers pay for PG&E’s sins", 9 Feb. 2017
Unsympathetic characters can be compelling, of course, goading the reader forward by sheer force of personality and the desire to see what deliciously unconscionable things might happen next.

— holly bass, New York Times, "Zadie Smith’s ‘Swing Time’ Explores Friends’ Diverging Paths NOV. 7, 2016", 10 Nov. 2016
Apparently, Verizon’s stance on MP3 ringtones wasn’t always so unconscionable.

— wired blogs, WIRED, "Verizon Cripples New RAZRs", 13 July 2006

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'unconscionable'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Did You Know?

Something that can't be done in good conscience is unconscionable, and such acts can range from betraying a confidence to mass murder. For a five-syllable word, unconscionable is actually quite common. This is partly because it isn't always used very seriously; so, for example, a critic is free to call a fat new book "an unconscionable waste of trees". In law, an unconscionable contract is one that, even though it was signed by both parties, is so ridiculous that a judge will just throw it out.

First Known Use of unconscionable

1565

UNCONSCIONABLE Defined for English Language Learners

unconscionable

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adjective

Definition of unconscionable for English Language Learners

: extremely bad, unfair, or wrong
: going far beyond what is usual or proper

Law Dictionary

unconscionable

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adjective un·con·scio·na·ble \ˌən-ˈkän-chə-nə-bəl\

Legal Definition of unconscionable

: unreasonably unfair to one party, marked by oppression, or otherwise unacceptably offensive to public policy an unconscionable clause finds the contract…to have been unconscionable at the time it was made — Uniform Commercial Code — compare conscionable