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as in immoral
not conforming to a high moral standard; morally unacceptable unethical treatment of prisoners of war that was a clear violation of international law

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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 unethical Controlled experiments on humans, particularly of this kind, are inherently unethical, therefore studies rely on surveys and reports. Danielle Sukenik, The Conversation, 11 Apr. 2025 People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals finds the whole idea of using pig organs unethical. Karen Weintraub, USA Today, 11 Apr. 2025 Her emotional response and (to be fair, unethical) choice to threaten the guy suggest to the viewer that Dr. Santos herself experienced a similar kind of trauma as a child. Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 10 Apr. 2025 Because many local governments and their operations are so obscure, there are abundant opportunities for unethical behavior and corruption. David Greising, Chicago Tribune, 6 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for unethical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unethical
Adjective
  • Even children and adolescents express more willingness to shun and punish moral transgressors than people who do something personally obnoxious or offensive but not immoral.
    Jen Cole Wright, The Conversation, 14 Apr. 2025
  • Regardless of what transpired between the two cast members, on or off screen, Aspen was unfairly portrayed as an immoral character.
    Taylor Crumpton, Essence, 11 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • O’Neil had shown a more ruthless streak in dealing with Lemina, stripping the midfielder of the captaincy after those embarrassing post-match scenes at West Ham.
    Steve Madeley, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2025
  • There is the ruthless spymaster Luthen Rael (Stellan Skarsgård) and his mysterious assistant Kleya (Elizabeth Dulau).
    Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 21 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • That month, Drummond sued the board directly in the Oklahoma Supreme Court and asked it to rescind the charter contract and declare St. Isidore's establishment as a charter school unlawful.
    Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 29 Apr. 2025
  • Of note: Your Content must not be false, defamatory, misleading or hateful, or infringe any copyright or any other third-party rights or otherwise be unlawful.
    Catherine Pearson, New York Times, 29 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Rosamund Pike adds her name to the cast list, starring as a diamond seller whose family launders their profits through corrupt back-channels.
    Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 1 May 2025
  • Countless cases have shown how these schemes have granted safe haven to corrupt actors from around the world and other suspicious individuals in the EU.
    Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • While the practice of using haint blue to ward off evil spirits might not be as common, the color has bled into the mainstream, with major paint companies like Sherwin-Williams and PPG Industries, Inc selling paint inspired by the shade.
    Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 24 Apr. 2025
  • But who exactly is The Sentry, what are his origins, powers, and comrades in the fight against justice, and what’s the deal with his evil subconscious manifestation, The Void?
    Jeff Spry, Space.com, 23 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Sammie’s father is right to be concerned, but wrong about the sinful nature of the blues—Sinners depicts musical talent as a divine blessing, a power that can pierce the veil between worlds, for good or for ill.
    Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025
  • April 20: Projections showed A Minecraft Movie remaining atop the box office this Easter weekend, but audiences actually felt more sinful than predicted.
    Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 20 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Sandhagen dispatched Edgar with a vicious flying knee 28 seconds into that bout.
    Trent Reinsmith, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025
  • With two hits, one hit-by-pitch and zero outs recorded, Williams then left the mound to a vicious chorus of boos as Aaron Boone summoned Mark Leiter Jr. — not Weaver — from the bullpen.
    Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 26 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • President Donald Trump intends to completely reimagine U.S. trade relations with our closest partners and fiercest rivals, for better or worse.
    Charles Singh, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2025
  • As an attempt to derive meaning from a meaningless phrase —which was, after all, the user's request—that's not half bad.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 29 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Unethical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unethical. Accessed 4 May. 2025.

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