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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unclean
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
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.
—Sharon Udasin, The Hill, 13 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for 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
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.
—Sharon Udasin, The Hill, 13 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for unclean
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unclean
Adjective
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His family’s investments in cryptocurrency, including allegations of corrupt self-dealing, galvanized most Democrats to oppose the bill.—
David Sivak,
The Washington Examiner,
17 June 2025
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The film gathers immoral cops, ruthless women and corrupt politicians to complete the world of populist cinema based in hinterlands of India.—
Sweta Kaushal,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2025
Adjective
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Troubled Factories: The medications came mostly from plants in India where inspectors found contaminated drugs, filthy labs and falsified records.—
Debbie Cenziper,
ProPublica,
17 June 2025
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The next year, his fame reached a new echelon after the release of Pumping Iron, a docudrama that highlighted Schwarzenegger's strange charisma and filthy sense of humor.—
Randall Colburn,
EW.com,
12 June 2025
Adjective
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There is another current salmonella outbreak linked to cucumbers that has already left 45 people sick and 16 hospitalized across 18 states.—
Bruce Y. Lee,
Forbes.com,
9 June 2025
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Some of the samples tested positive for Salmonella and additional testing found that the samples were closely related to the Salmonella found in sick people.—
Amber Brenza,
Health,
8 June 2025
Adjective
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The effort is big business with organized, managed, paid people doing the dirty work.—
Carolyn Rosenblatt,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2025
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Washing Machine Cleaner Your clothes aren’t the only things that get dirty in the laundry room.—
Lauren David,
Southern Living,
13 June 2025
Adjective
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These systems use signals that are orders of magnitude stronger than satellite signals and can serve as a resilient backup when GPS is degraded or unavailable.—
Mariam Sorond,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2025
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Additionally, about 6,600 acres of degraded coastal land will be improved to provide a third buffer against coastal storms and erosion processes.—
Suzanne Wright,
USA Today,
4 June 2025
Adjective
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If soil clumps fall apart between your fingers or the texture is dusty, the soil is too dry and more water is needed.—
Heather Zidack,
Hartford Courant,
7 June 2025
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Resilience carried a rover with a shovel to gather lunar dirt as well as a Swedish artist's toy-size red house for placement on the moon's dusty surface.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
6 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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On my last trip to Crans-Montana, Switzerland, having a bag that could be easily cleaned was crucial after hiking, running, and cycling in the muddy woods.—
Michelle Tchea,
Travel + Leisure,
10 June 2025
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My feet sink into the muddy ground, wet soaking through my leather boots and sweat pooling under my arms and behind my knees.—
Erica Stern
June 9,
Literary Hub,
9 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unclean.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unclean. Accessed 22 Jun. 2025.
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