undue

adjective

un·​due ˌən-ˈdü 

-ˈdyü

1

: not due : not yet payable

2

: exceeding or violating propriety or fitness : excessive

undue force

Synonyms

• excessive
• extreme
• steep

Examples of undue in a Sentence

These requirements shouldn't cause you any undue hardship.

His writing is elegant without calling undue attention to itself.

Recent Examples on the Web

Attorneys for Merit Street Media filed a response stating that the request from PBR was not reasonable and placed an undue burden on Merit Street. —Elizabeth Campbell, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Aug. 2025

The investigation team questioned Kim for about seven hours on Wednesday on various allegations, including claims that Yoon and Kim exerted undue influence over the conservative party's candidate nominations for a parliamentary by-election in 2022. —Kim Tong-Hyung The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 8 Aug. 2025

But making a satellite orbit too low can cause undue trouble for the operators, Tyson says. —Emma R. Hasson, Scientific American, 6 Aug. 2025

Digital sovereignty refers to the ability of a nation, organization or individual to control and govern their own digital assets, infrastructure and data independently, free from undue external influence or dependency. —Dirk-Peter Van Leeuwen, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for undue

• blew
• blue
• boo
• brew
• chew
• chou
• clue
• coo
• coup
• crew
• cue
• dew

Kids Definition

undue

adjective

un·​due ˌən-ˈd(y)ü 

1

: not due

2

: excessive

undue profit

Legal Definition

undue

adjective

un·​due ˌən-ˈdü, -ˈdyü 

1

: not due : not yet payable

an undue bill

2

: exceeding or violating propriety or fitness

would impose undue hardship on the debtors

such a requirement would place an undue burden on employers