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
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
-
Making matters worse, the Blueprint is wholly inappropriate for many of Maryland’s counties.—
Chris Roemer,
Baltimore Sun,
26 Mar. 2026
-
As City Hall contracted with Washington’s organization, emails detailing allegations of inappropriate behavior followed, The Star found.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
What the report found In response to the allegations in Minnesota, Abbott issued six directives to the state workforce and human services commissions to identify if Texas had a problem with improper payments, specifically with fraud.—
Jess Huff,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Manufacturers, though, don’t have to comply if the breakdown is the result of neglect or improper modifications made by the consumer.—
Gray Rohrer,
Miami Herald,
27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Now, because of his imprudent and inaccurate sloganeering, even with a majority of his appointees sitting on the board, the mayor faces the prospect of a legal and political fiasco that implicates the honesty of his most prominent promise to his constituents.—
Christian Browne,
New York Daily News,
26 Mar. 2026
-
The grand jury also charged Talley with a misdemeanor count of operating a vehicle in a careless and imprudent manner — stunt driving.—
Robert A. Cronkleton
March 24,
Kansas City Star,
24 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
-
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
-
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
-
Don’t let false friends (or even well-meaning but financially unwise ones) pressure you into overspending.—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Therefore, your desire to pull up your socks and make some improvements might be a bit scattered or unwise.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
19 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The American people are not stupid and will not accept more failure theater from Republicans in Congress.—
Lauren Green,
The Washington Examiner,
25 Mar. 2026
-
The American people are not stupid and will not accept more failure theater from Republicans in Congress.—
Justin Papp,
CNBC,
24 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Longtime fans may recall that on Thanksgiving Night 2009, Woods’ Cadillac Escalade collided with a fire hydrant, tree and several bushes near his Central Florida home, and he was ticketed with careless driving.—
Devoun Cetoute,
Miami Herald,
27 Mar. 2026
-
She was arrested in a bankruptcy case in 2013, arrested for careless driving in 2021 and arrested again in 2023 on suspicion of domestic violence and battery.—
Michael Saponara,
Billboard,
25 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ill-advised.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ill-advised. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
