unwise

adjective

un·​wise ˌən-ˈwīz How to pronounce unwise (audio)
: lacking wisdom or good sense : foolish, imprudent
unwisely adverb

Examples of unwise in a Sentence

It would be unwise to buy a house now. made the unwise decision to invest in a brand-new company
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In many cases, models rationalized larger bets after losses or winning streaks, even though the rules of the game made such choices statistically unwise. Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025 But while a dual CEO structure may superficially make sense for Disney, company insiders and corporate governance experts warn there are considerations specific to the Mouse House that would make such a dynamic unwise. Alex Sherman, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2025 One is that payments to a narrow group of those affected by unwise trade policies are economically inefficient. Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 12 Oct. 2025 Letang will turn 39 later this season, and Karlsson isn’t far behind at 35, so expecting any kind of a renaissance here feels unwise. Harman Dayal, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for unwise

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unwise was before the 12th century

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Cite this Entry

“Unwise.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unwise. Accessed 25 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

unwise

adjective
un·​wise ˌən-ˈwīz How to pronounce unwise (audio)
ˈən-
: not wise : foolish
unwisely adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on unwise

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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