Synonyms of unfair

unfair

adjective

ˌən-ˈfer 

as in foul

not being in accordance with the rules or standards of what is fair in sport

a team that is notorious throughout the league for its record of unfair play

Synonyms & Similar Words

• foul
• illegal
• nasty
• dirty
• unsportsmanlike
• shameful
• low
• unjust
• dishonorable
• below the belt
• shabby
• unethical
• immoral
• mean
• ignoble
• unscrupulous
• unprincipled
• ungentlemanly
• unrighteous
• rotten
• unchivalrous

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• fair
• legal
• clean
• just
• moral
• ethical
• sportsmanlike
• sportsmanly
• righteous
• scrupulous
• principled
• honorable
• law-abiding
• unimpeachable
• irreproachable

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of unfair

To evaluate claims of unfair advantages, strangers may request hormone or genetic testing to look for common biological variations that cisgender children and their parents may not even be aware of. — Megan Gandy, The Conversation, 1 July 2026

Before the ban, transgender girls in West Virginia could compete on female teams unless the state athletic body determined theirparticipation was unsafe or unfair to other athletes. — Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 1 July 2026

Even devices made by other companies, such as Samsung and Xiaomi, include Google apps as the default per the Android licensing agreement, giving Google an unfair advantage, according to European antitrust regulators. — Ryan Whitwam, ArsTechnica, 2 July 2026

In February 2011, a month before the NFL CBA would expire and the NFL would lock out players, the league filed an unfair labor practice charge (ULP) with the NLRB. — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 2 July 2026