1
as in corrupt
having or showing lowered moral character or standards
there's something unclean about this whole business
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in filthy
not clean
a lackadaisical waiter who tried to set our table with smudged glasses and unclean silverware
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unclean
Historically, Black women have disproportionately faced related charges of being physically and biologically unclean.
—
Literary Hub, 21 Aug. 2025
The restaurant was closed because of issues with running water at its sinks, proper hot water temperature, improper refrigeration temperatures and unclean surfaces, according to the inspection report.
—Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Aug. 2025
Yet, in traditional Mongolian thought, even the most admirable dog is understood to be inherently unclean.
—Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 2 Aug. 2025
An investigation by The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) found that the dogs were kept in unclean and overcrowded conditions, with little access to fresh water.
—Lesley Cosme Torres, People.com, 17 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for unclean
Literary Hub, 21 Aug. 2025
The restaurant was closed because of issues with running water at its sinks, proper hot water temperature, improper refrigeration temperatures and unclean surfaces, according to the inspection report.
—Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Aug. 2025
Yet, in traditional Mongolian thought, even the most admirable dog is understood to be inherently unclean.
—Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 2 Aug. 2025
An investigation by The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) found that the dogs were kept in unclean and overcrowded conditions, with little access to fresh water.
—Lesley Cosme Torres, People.com, 17 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for unclean
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unclean
Adjective
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The technology included corrupt automatic shuffling machines that read cards and predicted which player had the best hand.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
25 Oct. 2025
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Porter’s story was viewed largely as a cautionary tale of a corrupt athlete… until this week, when the FBI dropped news of a much wider NBA betting scandal that shed light on Porter’s possible motivations.—
Eben Novy-Williams,
Sportico.com,
24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Jackson Lamb has long, greasy hair and a pot belly over which hangs a filthy old trench coat.—
Barbara Ellis,
Denver Post,
20 Oct. 2025
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On the other end, Ja’Marr Chase is coming off an absolutely filthy touchdown grab last Sunday.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The longer the shutdown lasts, the greater the risk of cargo backups at these Texas ports due to unpaid employees calling in sick.—
The NPR Network,
NPR,
30 Oct. 2025
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Officials advise against consuming meat from deer that appear sick or test positive for the disease.—
Marina Johnson,
Louisville Courier Journal,
30 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Leave it on dirty spots for just a minute before rubbing residue away with a soft cloth.—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
29 Oct. 2025
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Williams has shown the ability to break some long runs and pick up the dirty yards.—
Lawrence Dow,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
28 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Previous studies relied on a process known as polymerase chain reaction (PCR), which amplifies small or degraded fragments of DNA, allowing scientists to analyze genetic material even from old or damaged organic matter.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
24 Oct. 2025
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For Capone, this high precedence of pinworm was incredibly surprising, given that the samples were over 1,000 years old and the DNA would have been highly degraded over such a long period of time.—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
22 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The stained glass traces a hierarchy from the current dean to the Crown and then to God.—
Rick Burton,
Sportico.com,
6 Oct. 2025
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Wood stained baseboards may need a gentler cleaning approach, such as Murphy’s Oil Soap, to protect the finish.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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This is not a dusty collection or hodgepodge of Gold Rush artifacts placed around a xeriscape.—
David Caraccio,
Sacbee.com,
25 Oct. 2025
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The old shelves with their dusty cans were gone, replaced by three wooden pillars, each with a small platform at chest height.—
David Wingrave,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The land, unfenced, abuts a bald blackened hillside that must be public land.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Aug. 2025
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In its time open, fueled by fans of its blackened mahi and buttery lobster rolls, owner Mike Smith has expanded his footprint, moving into a larger stall in the popular food hall — which has allowed for a menu expansion, as well.—
Amy Drew Thompson,
Orlando Sentinel,
6 Dec. 2022
Cite this Entry
“Unclean.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unclean. Accessed 2 Nov. 2025.
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