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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ill-advised
They’re further complicated by the fact that the United States’ infrastructure has glaring weak points, making the simplest solution of hauling more weight ill-advised at best.
—
Caleb Jacobs, The Drive, 4 Feb. 2026
To be sure, some of these divestitures and breakups follow deals that seem to have been ill-advised from the start.
—Amelia Lucas, CNBC, 31 Jan. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for ill-advised
Caleb Jacobs, The Drive, 4 Feb. 2026
To be sure, some of these divestitures and breakups follow deals that seem to have been ill-advised from the start.
—Amelia Lucas, CNBC, 31 Jan. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for ill-advised
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ill-advised
Adjective
-
Over the following 12 days, investigators determined that Lulinski had used his cell phone on multiple occasions to take inappropriate and surreptitious photos or videos of minors during normal school activities.—
CBS Atlanta Digital Team,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
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But inappropriate behavior toward and with subordinates is too often not a shocking secret within the halls of Congress.—
Michelle Cottle,
Mercury News,
16 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Some will argue that directing government dollars toward private news organizations amounts to an improper subsidy of private business.—
Julian Baron,
Baltimore Sun,
19 Apr. 2026
-
His attorney has argued there is no legal basis for charges and accused prosecutors of using improper tactics.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
17 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Additional charges included negligently driving a vehicle in a careless and imprudent manner, endangering property, life, and person, as well as recklessly driving a vehicle in wanton and willful disregard for the safety of persons and property.—
Diane J. Cho,
PEOPLE,
16 Apr. 2026
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To be fair, those imprudent claims were made without the benefit of seeing this evidence.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The frame was actually lifted, so that the piping from the turbo to the engine could be technically feasible, even if inadvisable in real life.—
Adam Ismail,
The Drive,
19 Mar. 2026
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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
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
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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
-
To reveal more would be unwise.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
10 Apr. 2026
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Reflexive partisanship is not just politically unwise but operationally untenable.—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld,
Fortune,
6 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
And then the second one is grassroots and bottom up and the local solutions to this thing that is a stupid business model.—
Jim Alexander,
Oc Register,
11 Apr. 2026
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Allowing one nine years of eligibility is just stupid.—
Nick Canepa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
11 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
An elevated matching set There’s a fine line between comfortable and careless.—
Gabrielle Porcaro,
Travel + Leisure,
18 Apr. 2026
-
Additional charges included negligently driving a vehicle in a careless and imprudent manner, endangering property, life, and person, as well as recklessly driving a vehicle in wanton and willful disregard for the safety of persons and property.—
Diane J. Cho,
PEOPLE,
16 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ill-advised.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ill-advised. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.
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