as in inappropriate
showing poor judgment especially in personal relationships or social situations
an ill-advised criticism of the boss at a company function
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of ill-advised
In fact, reconciliation was often ill-advised, especially if offenders had not expressed remorse or commitment to any type of meaningful change.
—
Richard Balkin, The Conversation, 26 Jan. 2026
After a few run-ins like this, Scott even invites him to one of his games (an ill-advised — but in this case successful — attempt to win over a gay guy).
—Tom Smyth, Vulture, 5 Dec. 2025
Under a warning, travel is ill-advised.
—Ryan Murphy, IndyStar, 28 Nov. 2025
Another reversion that, for now, seems ill-advised is pairing Samus up with other characters.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 14 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ill-advised
Richard Balkin, The Conversation, 26 Jan. 2026
After a few run-ins like this, Scott even invites him to one of his games (an ill-advised — but in this case successful — attempt to win over a gay guy).
—Tom Smyth, Vulture, 5 Dec. 2025
Under a warning, travel is ill-advised.
—Ryan Murphy, IndyStar, 28 Nov. 2025
Another reversion that, for now, seems ill-advised is pairing Samus up with other characters.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 14 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ill-advised
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ill-advised
Adjective
-
The dashboard may identify patients who may have started on a new medication that interacts with a DOAC, patients who have had a change in their kidney function or who have been prescribed an inappropriate dose.—
David Cox,
NBC news,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Other emails from the latest crop of the Epstein files include other inappropriate comments about Beatrice and Eugenie.—
Rachel Burchfield,
InStyle,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Yet complaints of improper and fraudulent enrollment have surged since the pandemic.—
Bloomberg Opinion,
Twin Cities,
15 Feb. 2026
-
These symptoms can indicate bacterial or fungal problems, pests, or improper care like too much or too little water.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
If a cost is found imprudent, it is rejected.—
Rory M. Christian,
New York Daily News,
24 Jan. 2026
-
That’s imprudent, because the Arctic’s climate is changing more rapidly than anywhere on Earth.—
Paul Bierman,
Washington Post,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The reality is that reconciling a relationship is not just difficult, but sometimes inadvisable or dangerous, especially in cases involving harm or trauma.—
Richard Balkin,
The Conversation,
26 Jan. 2026
-
The Beers Criteria, a directory of drugs often deemed inadvisable for older adults, recently published recommendations for alternative medications and nonpharmacological treatments for frequent problems.—
Paula Span,
Miami Herald,
25 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
These injudicious, blunt-force tariffs do get undone almost as quickly as they are slapped on, thank heavens.—
Jim Cramer,
CNBC,
25 Jan. 2026
-
So maybe use the feelings aroused by your sister-in-law’s thoughtless, certainly injudicious, possibly naughty remark as an opportunity to rise above.—
James Parker,
The Atlantic,
22 Oct. 2024
Adjective
-
That’s a risk that seems deeply unwise.—
Julian Baron,
Baltimore Sun,
16 Feb. 2026
-
In fact, the doctor shortage has led to unwise remedies such as overreliance on PAs.—
Betsy McCaughey,
Boston Herald,
8 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
But maybe Johnson isn’t stupid.—
Mark Z. Barabak,
Mercury News,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Even in contemporary political and intellectual discourse, there remains an attachment to a particular stupid southern conservatism, the ideocratic confederacy.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Brooklyn got careless, committing nine turnovers in the quarter.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
10 Feb. 2026
-
That will be the difference in the game unless Darnold is careless with the ball.—
Mike Sando,
New York Times,
7 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ill-advised.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ill-advised. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
