unsportsmanlike

adjective

un·​sports·​man·​like ˌən-ˈspȯrts-mən-ˌlīk 

: not characteristic of or exhibiting good sportsmanship : not sportsmanlike

cited for unsportsmanlike behavior

Synonyms of unsportsmanlike

• foul
• unfair
• illegal
• nasty

Examples of unsportsmanlike in a Sentence

Unsportsmanlike conduct will not be tolerated.

was suspended for unsportsmanlike conduct

Recent Examples on the Web

Hafley was naturally upset about Ollie Gordon’s unsportsmanlike conduct penalty that turned into a 3rd and 5 into a 3rd and 20 that the Dolphins didn’t convert during the Patriots’ 21-0 run. — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 2 Nov. 2026

Miami went three-and-out on the next drive, its momentum stalled after Ollie Gordon drew an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty after saying something to a defender following a 5-yard carry. — ABC News, 1 Nov. 2026

Another issue for the Lakers — and Trail Blazers, for that matter — were the technical fouls being called, none of them for unsportsmanlike conduct. — Broderick Turner, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2026

On top of that, BYU defensive tackle Keanu Tanuvasa was assessed an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty that gave the Knights a fresh set of downs and moved them up to the BYU 28-yard line. — Matt Reigle Outkick, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1754, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for unsportsmanlike

• statesmanlike
• alike
• belike
• birdlike
• catlike
• childlike
• christlike
• deathlike
• dislike
• dreamlike
• friedreich
• godlike