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

• bad
• dark
• evil
• immoral
• iniquitous
• nefarious
• rotten
• sinful
• unlawful
• unrighteous
• unsavory
• vicious
• vile
• villainous
• wicked
• wrong

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

Several other panelists asked questions about the potential that MDMA, once available widely in therapeutic settings, could lead to other instances of unethical behavior. —Will Stone, NPR, 4 June 2024

Proponents claim the action is necessary and will be beneficial to both species, while those in opposition consider the solution unethical and unsustainable. —Devika Rao, theweek, 8 Apr. 2024

Any time traveler will recognize this as an unethical seduction tactic. —Rachel Handler, Vulture, 15 Mar. 2024

Given the discrepancies between NBA and WNBA salaries, is there a concern that a WNBA player could be a target for unethical actors in the gambling world and potentially compromise the integrity of games? —Sean Gregory, TIME, 30 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1871, in the meaning defined above