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

unethically

ˌən-ˈe-thi-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Synonyms of unethical

• immoral
• unlawful
• evil
• sinful
• vicious
• bad
• vile
• dark

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

Examples like sales phone time or the Wells Fargo scandal illustrate how focusing solely on numbers can distort behavior, leading to superficial achievements or even unethical practices. — Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026

In March, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung warned on X that oil refiners and corporations engaged in price-fixing would be held accountable, vowing to deploy all lawful measures against unethical business practices. — Jenny Lee, CNBC, 6 July 2026

And that, in turn, has attracted some unethical providers who use predatory practices to keep patients, particularly out-of-state residents, in a treatment loop. — Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 5 July 2026

In another nod to Scream, Cheri Oteri parodies Courteney Cox’s Gale Weathers as the comically unethical news anchor Gail Hailstorm. — Skyler Trepel, Entertainment Weekly, 27 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1871, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for unethical

• ethical