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
They including paying for information that produced major stories, actions that would be considered unethical in American journalism.
—
David Bauder, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2026
Thanks to older siblings and friends, permissive parents, fake IDs, and unethical sellers, some young people have always found ways to evade these bans, and similar tactics could work for surmounting a social-media ban as well.
—Keith Humphreys, The Atlantic, 2 Feb. 2026
The legacy of unethical medical research in this country runs even deeper than the Tuskegee experiments.
—Akilah Weber Pierson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026
After a 10-year investigation and five malpractice claims, the Iowa Board of Medicine has issued a warning to a Des Moines surgeon accused of incompetence and unprofessional and unethical conduct.
—Clark Kauffman, Des Moines Register, 28 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unethical
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David Bauder, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2026
Thanks to older siblings and friends, permissive parents, fake IDs, and unethical sellers, some young people have always found ways to evade these bans, and similar tactics could work for surmounting a social-media ban as well.
—Keith Humphreys, The Atlantic, 2 Feb. 2026
The legacy of unethical medical research in this country runs even deeper than the Tuskegee experiments.
—Akilah Weber Pierson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026
After a 10-year investigation and five malpractice claims, the Iowa Board of Medicine has issued a warning to a Des Moines surgeon accused of incompetence and unprofessional and unethical conduct.
—Clark Kauffman, Des Moines Register, 28 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unethical
Cite this Entry
“Unethical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unethical. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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