unfounded

adjective

un·​found·​ed ˌən-ˈfau̇n-dəd 

: lacking a sound basis : groundless, unwarranted

an unfounded accusation

Synonyms

• unreasonable
• baseless
• groundless
• unsubstantiated

Examples of unfounded in a Sentence

the accusation proved to be unfounded

Recent Examples on the Web

Meanwhile, a growing body of research found that police regularly performed inadequate rape investigations, deciding reports were unfounded before interviewing witnesses, collecting evidence or testing DNA. —Willoughby Mariano, ProPublica, 11 Sep. 2025

The classic Stern misdirect briefly confused listeners and leaned into the unfounded rumors that SiriusXM wasn't planning to renew Stern’s current five-year contract, which expires in December. —Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2025

Concern about inhaled anesthesia impacting brain development is not totally unfounded, says Ji-Hyun Lee, MD, PhD, co-author of the new study published in Anesthesiology. —​wendy Wisner, Parents, 9 Sep. 2025

But experts say the fear that coffee causes dehydration is, in most cases, unfounded. —Fran Kritz, Health, 9 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1648, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for unfounded

• abounded
• astounded
• compounded
• confounded
• expounded
• foregrounded
• impounded
• propounded
• rebounded
• resounded
• subrounded
• surrounded

Kids Definition

unfounded

adjective

un·​found·​ed ˌən-ˈfau̇n-dəd 

ˈən-

: lacking a sound base : groundless

unfounded suspicions