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
Islamic finance may also avoid sectors and products considered haram, or unclean; for example, a sharia-compliant ETF may avoid banks that offer traditional loans or e-commerce platforms that sell pork.
—
Angelica Ang, Fortune, 29 Apr. 2026
Neglecting to clean pet gear regularly isn’t just a cosmetic issue; unclean items can lead to infections, skin irritation, digestive problems, and lingering odors.
—Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Apr. 2026
Navarro explains that this is most likely because people commonly touch their spice jars with unclean hands after handling raw meat and don’t sanitize the containers after the fact.
—Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 14 Mar. 2026
Its answer to Fading West’s arbitration lawsuit also accuses Fading West of breach of contract, fraud and unclean hands, without further explanation.
—Justin Wingerter, Denver Post, 4 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unclean
Angelica Ang, Fortune, 29 Apr. 2026
Neglecting to clean pet gear regularly isn’t just a cosmetic issue; unclean items can lead to infections, skin irritation, digestive problems, and lingering odors.
—Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Apr. 2026
Navarro explains that this is most likely because people commonly touch their spice jars with unclean hands after handling raw meat and don’t sanitize the containers after the fact.
—Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 14 Mar. 2026
Its answer to Fading West’s arbitration lawsuit also accuses Fading West of breach of contract, fraud and unclean hands, without further explanation.
—Justin Wingerter, Denver Post, 4 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unclean
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unclean
Adjective
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Johnson County He was arrested last August on charges of abuse of office and corrupt influence.—
S.E. Jenkins,
CBS News,
21 June 2026
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The kidnappings have been linked to run-ins with drug cartels and corrupt government officials, while there have also been cases involving young women who worked at the country’s many factories.—
Eduard Cauich,
Los Angeles Times,
21 June 2026
Adjective
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But, the freedom loving sane people of this great country came to Karoline's defense to show support, destroy the filthy LIBS and celebrate the greatest press secretary this country has ever employed.—
Joe Kinsey OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
16 June 2026
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Fans fought in the streets, heaved bottles, smashed windows and shouted filthy insults in the melee, which left nearly 50 people injured.—
AJ Willingham,
AJC.com,
15 June 2026
Adjective
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Having a sick pet is emotionally a lot to handle.—
Sydney Lake,
Fortune,
22 June 2026
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Preventing infestation Just because one calf is sick doesn’t mean the entire herd will get it, Cammack said.—
Jen Christensen,
CNN Money,
22 June 2026
Adjective
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There are two freezer martini variations – one with vodka, served dirty and another with gin and a lemon twist.—
Ella Gonzales,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
16 June 2026
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Wet bathing suits and dirty clothes need somewhere to go once your kid has changed into something dry and clean.—
Lydia Mansel,
Travel + Leisure,
16 June 2026
Adjective
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Even when degraded, enzymes have stable backbones that might be capable of catalyzing reactions, said Sudha Rajamani, an astrobiologist at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune who wasn’t involved in the study.—
Siddhant Pusdekar,
Quanta Magazine,
1 June 2026
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According to the company, QTT enables highly secure and resilient position, navigation, and timing (PNT) services, helping maintain accurate timing and synchronization even when traditional GPS and radio-frequency signals are unavailable, degraded, or intentionally jammed.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
30 May 2026
Adjective
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Visitors stroll from room to room, surrounded by stained glass and sacred cremains, serving witness to moving and often head-scratching performances.—
Randy McMullen,
Mercury News,
18 June 2026
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Quick wash cycles are best for lightly soiled or musty items and small loads, not for stained or heavily used laundry.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
17 June 2026
Adjective
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Looking for a heritage bolt of fabric without having to comb through the dusty shelves of an antiques store?—
Alyssa Longobucco,
Architectural Digest,
19 June 2026
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On the dusty backroads of Radiator Springs, where Lightning McQueen and his pals live, a shower of meteors threatened to bring destruction upon the quarter-size cars in a scene that disaster movie king Roland Emmerich would endorse.—
Sandra Gonzalez,
CNN Money,
19 June 2026
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 24 Jun. 2026.
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