unscrupulous

adjective

un·​scru·​pu·​lous ˌən-ˈskrü-pyə-ləs 

: not scrupulous : unprincipled

… replicas that unscrupulous shopkeepers may sometimes try to palm off as the real thing.

—Geri Trotta

unscrupulously adverb

unscrupulousness noun

Synonyms of unscrupulous

• immoral
• ruthless
• corrupt
• unprincipled
• unethical

Examples of unscrupulous in a Sentence

an unscrupulous businessman manipulated them into selling their land for practically nothing

Recent Examples on the Web

That is not to say that unscrupulous politicians do not engage in bribery. — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 24 Sep. 2026

But that can come with its own risks, especially with an unscrupulous agent. — Michael Butler, Miami Herald, 21 Sep. 2026

In 2026, how reasonable are fears that AI, either by escaping human control or through misuse by unscrupulous people, could cause a cataclysmic event or the downfall of civilization? — ABC News, 14 Sep. 2026

Mehring’s characters include petty criminals, unscrupulous lawyers, Galician Jews, Freikorps heavies, local and international businessmen, Prussian generals, and the everyday citizens inhabiting the streets of Berlin’s old and rather dingy center. — Literary Hub, 9 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1803, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for unscrupulous

• scrupulous

Kids Definition

unscrupulous

adjective

un·​scru·​pu·​lous ˌən-ˈskrü-pyə-ləs 

ˈən-

: not scrupulous : unprincipled

unscrupulously adverb

unscrupulousness noun