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
This position is both unethical and a breakdown of the rule of law.
—
Mark Pirie, Chicago Tribune, 2 Mar. 2026
The solicitation of complaints by the board’s executive director, Michael Cavin, resulted in complaints of unethical conduct filed against Mejia and Smith by their employers.
—Clark Kauffman, Iowa Capital Dispatch, 27 Feb. 2026
New vaccines, however, are usually compared with older vaccines because it’s considered unethical, not to mention unwise, to put children at risk of contracting a vaccine-preventable disease.
—Tom Bartlett, The Atlantic, 24 Feb. 2026
Tried as an adult, the teen was convicted five months later at a trial replete with errors and unethical behavior — but almost no real evidence.
—Dan Kelly, Kansas City Star, 17 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unethical
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Mark Pirie, Chicago Tribune, 2 Mar. 2026
The solicitation of complaints by the board’s executive director, Michael Cavin, resulted in complaints of unethical conduct filed against Mejia and Smith by their employers.
—Clark Kauffman, Iowa Capital Dispatch, 27 Feb. 2026
New vaccines, however, are usually compared with older vaccines because it’s considered unethical, not to mention unwise, to put children at risk of contracting a vaccine-preventable disease.
—Tom Bartlett, The Atlantic, 24 Feb. 2026
Tried as an adult, the teen was convicted five months later at a trial replete with errors and unethical behavior — but almost no real evidence.
—Dan Kelly, Kansas City Star, 17 Feb. 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 12 Mar. 2026.
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