unjustified

adjective

un·​jus·​ti·​fied ˌən-ˈjə-stə-ˌfīd 

: not justified: such as

a

: not demonstrably correct or judicious : not warranted or appropriate

unjustified anger

jumping to unjustified conclusions

an unjustified punishment

b

: not spaced to be even

unjustified lines of text

an unjustified margin

Examples of unjustified in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The initiative, which was marked by controversial arrests and clashes with protesters, was decried by local leaders as heavy-handed and unjustified. —Aaron Navarro, CBS News, 17 Mar. 2026

In closing arguments, Deputy Prosecutor Paul Namie, with co-counsel Judy Massa, said no matter Lipscomb’s behavior, shooting her once in the chest was unjustified. —Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 14 Mar. 2026

As the moon and Venus clash, someone’s unwillingness to meet you halfway isn’t unjustified. —Usa Today, USA Today, 12 Mar. 2026

Williams is relatively clueless beyond opposition to unjustified, racially discriminatory use of lethal force on display in the deaths of Trayvon Martin, George Floyd and a disturbing chronicle of other homicides. —Bruce Fein, Baltimore Sun, 5 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for unjustified

• acetamide
• acetonide
• acidified
• antimonide
• beatified
• benzaldehyde
• borohydride
• chalcogenide
• commodified
• decalcified
• declassified
• disaccharide

Legal Definition

unjustified

adjective

un·​jus·​ti·​fied

ˌən-ˈjəs-tə-ˌfīd

: not justified

an unjustified intrusion