unethical

adjective

un·​eth·​i·​cal ˌən-ˈe-thi-kəl How to pronounce unethical (audio)
: not conforming to a high moral standard : morally wrong : not ethical
illegal and unethical business practices
immoral and unethical behavior
unethically adverb

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 are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The birth of the twins was seen as reckless and unethical by the scientific community. Regina G. Barber, NPR, 12 Aug. 2025 This appears to be an unethical racket, and the Legislature has approved it. Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 Aug. 2025 Without governance, companies risk biased algorithms making unethical decisions, non-compliance with strict regulations in areas like finance and healthcare and a loss of transparency that erodes employee and customer trust. Dutt Kalluri, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025 Schools compete fiercely to sign top recruits, sometimes engaging in unethical gray areas. Jim Martin, Denver Post, 3 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for unethical

Word History

First Known Use

1871, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unethical was in 1871

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Cite this Entry

“Unethical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unethical. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.

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