1
as in corrupt
having or showing lowered moral character or standards
there's something unclean about this whole business
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
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 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
-
According to the latest 2024 Transparency International report, the Americas average 42 out of 100 points on a scale where 100 is very transparent and zero is very corrupt.—
Sofía Benavides,
CNN Money,
14 Sep. 2025
-
With the help of Landy and Nicky Parsons, Bourne goes up against Vosen (David Strathairn), the corrupt director of Operation Blackbriar.—
Declan Gallagher,
Entertainment Weekly,
13 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Or find a less filthy campmate.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
7 Sep. 2025
-
Away from a filthy Superdome and Convention Center where they had been holed up for days.—
Suzette Hackney,
USA Today,
5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
But many Americans who don't meet the new criteria do still want to get vaccinated to avoid getting sick or spreading the virus to vulnerable family members.—
Rob Stein,
NPR,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Harry, who served in the British Armed Forces for 10 years, launched The Invictus Games in London in 2014 to honor active duty and veteran service members who have been wounded, injured or sick on the job.—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The gentle, fragrance-free formula leaves even the dirtiest of clothes spotless.—
Sophia Panych,
Allure,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Ahead of Lipa’s arrival the team was busy setting up trays of extra dirty martinis, her preferred drink.—
Leigh Nordstrom,
Footwear News,
16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Smoke will also lead to degraded air quality.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
8 Sep. 2025
-
The challenge grows in degraded or denied GPS environments, where many existing bombs lose precision.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Besides looking unappetizing, using a mildewed, stained dish towel for drying rather defeats the purpose of washing dishes.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
14 Sep. 2025
-
Hold the stained fabric taut and let the water flow from the back of the shirt to the front, allowing the water to push the stain away from the fabric rather than through it.—
Jolie Kerr,
Better Homes & Gardens,
4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
With Onum folded into Falcon, logs stop being dusty records and start becoming live intelligence.—
Tony Bradley,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
-
There, water to sustain such a colony may be trapped less than a foot beneath the dusty red surface.—
Jackie Wattles,
CNN Money,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The land, unfenced, abuts a bald blackened hillside that must be public land.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Aug. 2025
-
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 17 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share