unethical
adjective
un·eth·i·cal
ˌən-ˈe-thi-kəl 
: not conforming to a high moral standard : morally wrong : not ethical
illegal and unethical business practices
immoral and unethical behavior
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
The previous year, two Buffalo Bills executives got the axe shortly after returning from England because they were engaged in a professionally unethical romantic relationship in conspicuous fashion.
—
Michael Silver, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025
The team that investigated Comey this summer ultimately reached the same conclusion, telling Halligan that pursuing an indictment without clear probable cause would be unethical.
—Katherine Faulders, ABC News, 6 Oct. 2025
Have you ever been publicly disciplined for unethical or unlawful actions in your career?
—Kate Dore, Cfp®, Ea,kelli Grant, Cfp®, CNBC, 1 Oct. 2025
Yet studies have shown that when people delegate a task to others, the diffusion of responsibility can make the delegator feel less guilty about any resulting unethical behavior.
—Rachel Nuwer, Scientific American, 28 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unethical
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Michael Silver, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025
The team that investigated Comey this summer ultimately reached the same conclusion, telling Halligan that pursuing an indictment without clear probable cause would be unethical.
—Katherine Faulders, ABC News, 6 Oct. 2025
Have you ever been publicly disciplined for unethical or unlawful actions in your career?
—Kate Dore, Cfp®, Ea,kelli Grant, Cfp®, CNBC, 1 Oct. 2025
Yet studies have shown that when people delegate a task to others, the diffusion of responsibility can make the delegator feel less guilty about any resulting unethical behavior.
—Rachel Nuwer, Scientific American, 28 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unethical
Cite this Entry
“Unethical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unethical. Accessed 10 Oct. 2025.
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