unsportsmanlike

adjective

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

: not characteristic of or exhibiting good sportsmanship : not sportsmanlike

Synonyms

• dirty
• foul
• illegal
• nasty
• unfair

Examples of unsportsmanlike in a Sentence

Unsportsmanlike conduct will not be tolerated.

was suspended for unsportsmanlike conduct

Recent Examples on the Web

Turner received a black card for her decision to take a knee, leading to her expulsion from the tournament for serious infractions or unsportsmanlike behavior. —Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 8 Apr. 2025

Play nice Eagles starting safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson got ejected after drawing his second unsportsmanlike play of the game — one of 10 penalties for the Birds. —Isaac Avilucea, Axios, 24 Jan. 2025

Unnecessary roughness: This penalty is called when a player’s activity is deemed overly aggressive, dangerous or unsportsmanlike. —Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 17 Jan. 2025

The celebration will now incur a 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty, due to being classified as a violent gesture. —Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1754, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for unsportsmanlike

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