unconscionable

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

How to pronounce unconscionable (audio)

\

Definition of unconscionable

1a : shockingly unfair or unjust unconscionable sales practices

b : excessive, unreasonable found an unconscionable number of defects in the car

2 : not guided or controlled by conscience : unscrupulous an unconscionable villain

Other Words from unconscionable Synonyms & Antonyms When Do You Use unconscionable? More Example Sentences Learn More about unconscionable

Keep scrolling for more

When Do You Use unconscionable?

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.

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 on the Web At the core of QAnon are baseless allegations that Democratic officials and Hollywood celebrities have engaged in unconscionable crimes, including raping and eating children, while seeking to subvert the Constitution. — Washington Post, "YouTube joins Silicon Valley peers in pre-election QAnon clampdown," 15 Oct. 2020 Would conservatives really want to restore the unconscionable practices this liberal court ruled against? — Steve Chapman Chicago Tribune, Star Tribune, "Amy Coney Barrett's religion is fine," 4 Oct. 2020 As a famous author, using an immense social media following to share anti-trans rhetoric is unconscionable. — Amy Mackelden, Harper's BAZAAR, "Letter Opposing J.K. Rowling's Transphobia Signed by More Than 1,500 Publishing Professionals," 3 Oct. 2020 Once Anaya’s parental rights were terminated, leaving him in this endless state of limbo was unconscionable. — Naomi Schaefer Riley, National Review, "Forever a Foster Child, Never an Adopted Son," 25 Sep. 2020 Other districts, like Hammond and Whiting, made the unconscionable decision to not play. — Mike Hutton, chicagotribune.com, "Hutton: Starting football on time has been a big win for the IHSAA, players and coaches," 9 Sep. 2020 Congressional gridlock on this issue is unconscionable and must end, before states are forced to make deep cuts to the very services people are depending on in this crisis. — Editorial Board Star Tribune, Star Tribune, "Federal aid for states is needed — even in Minnesota," 4 Sep. 2020 The result is an unconscionable neglect of some of the world’s most vulnerable people. — Haley Clark, Fortune, "Why I signed a letter to Ivanka Trump urging her to protect human trafficking survivors," 2 Sep. 2020 Sending out players to the field with ZERO TESTING POLICY then sending them home to vulnerable parents and grandparents is unconscionable. — Ben Thomas | Bthomas@al.com, al, "2 Alabama high school football coaches voice opinions to delay 2020 season," 21 Aug. 2020

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.

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about unconscionable

Dictionary Entries near unconscionable

unconscientious

unconsequential

Statistics for unconscionable

Last Updated

24 Oct 2020

Cite this Entry

“Unconscionable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unconscionable. Accessed 28 Oct. 2020.

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for unconscionable

unconscionable

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of unconscionable

formal

: extremely bad, unfair, or wrong

: going far beyond what is usual or proper

See the full definition for unconscionable in the English Language Learners Dictionary

unconscionable

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

Keep scrolling for more

WORD OF THE DAY

Cassandra

Listen to the pronunciation of Cassandra

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Here Be Dragons: A Creature Identification Quiz

Which is a synonym of werewolf?

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

Dictionary Devil

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.