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
Full Story Benefits of boiling water with dirty fuels outweigh the risk in areas with unclean resources: Study
Boiling unclean water in many regions of the world results in air pollution from burning dirty fuels, but the benefits of doing so usually outweigh the risks, a new study has found.
—
Rachel Frazin, The Hill, 13 May 2025
Rarely has equity ever seen a party whose hands are so unclean.
—William Lambers, Newsweek, 9 Mar. 2025
The employee said to not shoot the bear and advised him to call Public Safety to scare it away, officials said, adding that what likely attracted the bear to the man’s home were food items, including cat food and unclean grills.
—Natalie Demaree, Miami Herald, 25 May 2025
Inspectors found a can of Raid fly spray under the front counter, where there was an unclean floor drain.
—Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado, Sacbee.com, 23 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for unclean
Rachel Frazin, The Hill, 13 May 2025
Rarely has equity ever seen a party whose hands are so unclean.
—William Lambers, Newsweek, 9 Mar. 2025
The employee said to not shoot the bear and advised him to call Public Safety to scare it away, officials said, adding that what likely attracted the bear to the man’s home were food items, including cat food and unclean grills.
—Natalie Demaree, Miami Herald, 25 May 2025
Inspectors found a can of Raid fly spray under the front counter, where there was an unclean floor drain.
—Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado, Sacbee.com, 23 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for unclean
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unclean
Adjective
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Many of Trump's supporters dislike Zelensky, viewing him as corrupt and an obstacle to peace.—
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 June 2025
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Bates is Emmy-worthy as Madeline, a folksy, senior-citizen lawyer-slash-undercover grieving mom out to destroy a corrupt firm, and the show mixes clever case-of-the-week intrigue with heartfelt stories of grief, betrayal, and regret.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
25 June 2025
Adjective
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The room was filthy, prescription bottles around the room, one bed with no sheets.—
Howie Carr,
Boston Herald,
27 June 2025
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Photograph: Chris Null As anyone who’s ever stuck a cotton swab in there knows, your ear canal is a filthy, disgusting place.—
Christopher Null,
Wired News,
22 June 2025
Adjective
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Alaska, Michigan, and Maine are among the latest states with paid sick or family leave laws on the books.—
Jim Edwards,
Fortune,
1 July 2025
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Desperate to save his sick daughter, working-class Ben Richards (Glen Powell) is convinced by the show’s charming but ruthless producer, Dan Killian (Josh Brolin), to enter the game as a last resort.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
1 July 2025
Adjective
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Use the packing cubes to separate clean and dirty clothes for the duration of your cruise.—
Kelsey Glennon,
Travel + Leisure,
7 July 2025
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Employees get their hands dirty in the intro course by learning how to prompt, then move to more advanced courses on building custom GPTs and agents.—
Melissa Daimler,
Forbes.com,
7 July 2025
Adjective
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Shot on low-grade digital cameras that made every image look even more apocalyptic and degraded, the film remains utterly terrifying, boasting excellent supporting turns from Naomie Harris and Brendan Gleeson as Jim’s fellow survivors.—
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
20 June 2025
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The good news is that General Mills is more than 60% of the way to achieving its goal of advancing regenerative agriculture—farming practices that regenerate degraded soil—on a million acres of land by 2030.—
Dave Levinthal,
Fortune,
16 June 2025
Adjective
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Just think about where your luggage has been; it gets hauled through airports, goes for a ride on a conveyor belt, rolls across dusty parking lots, is stashed into overhead bins, and is often handled by multiple people with no guarantee of clean hands.—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
29 June 2025
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He’s worn them outside on dusty furniture, has cat fur all over them ...—
Brian Anthony Hernandez,
People.com,
28 June 2025
Adjective
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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
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There are no glamorous furnishings — just a French window, its blackened panes suggesting the dark of night.—
Christopher Knight,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Oct. 2022
Adjective
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Fucci, who was staying near the Guadalupe River, filmed on her phone a torrent of muddy water flooding the road to her grandmother's house.—
Susan Miller,
USA Today,
6 July 2025
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Navy blue and sage green have become go-to choices but are losing their charm; opt for moody hues like muddy green, rust, or confident forest green instead.—
Tessa Cooper,
Southern Living,
5 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unclean.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unclean. Accessed 10 Jul. 2025.
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