unethical

adjective

ˌən-ˈe-thi-kəl How to pronounce unethical (audio)
Definition of unethicalnext
1
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in ruthless
not guided by or showing a concern for what is right an unethical attorney, he had no qualms about getting off clients who he knew were guilty

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 unethical Professors have encountered demonstrable issues with widespread cheating, with many forced to devise their own methods for eliminating unethical AI use. — Christopher Rim, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026 Ending clear unethical activity by a president is important to the long-term health and stability of our country. — Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 Aug. 2026 The myth that they’re somehow linked stems from a single report from England involving just a dozen children that was later found to be fraudulent and unethical and was forced to be retracted. — Andrew D. Racine, STAT, 14 Aug. 2026 But if surveillance pricing seems corrupt or unethical, get ready. — Los Angeles Times, 10 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unethical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unethical
  1. immoral
  2. ruthless
  3. unlawful
  4. corrupt
  5. evil
  6. sinful
  7. vicious
  8. bad
Adjective
  • What’s so immoral about a goal scored accidentally with a hand or arm anyway?
    — Graham Scott, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2026
  • He was branded a heretic, in part for preaching that the nobility were immoral and so was nobility itself.
    — Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of immoral
Adjective
  • He was always destined to follow in the footsteps of another tyrannical, ruthless Don – Michael Corleone.
    — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Ink finds the Sinners star playing ruthless tabloid editor Larry Lamb in Boyle’s retelling of what happened when Rupert Murdoch acquired struggling British newspaper The Sun.
    — Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of ruthless
Adjective
  • He is charged with official misconduct in the first degree, which is punishable by up to 12 months behind bars, if convicted, and unlawful access to a computer in the fourth degree, which carries a maximum sentence of 90 days.
    — Josh Wood, Louisville Courier Journal, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Investigators accused him of obstruction of justice, unlawful contracting and, among other things, claiming $127,630 in expenses linked to fictitious missions and plane tickets for nearly a dozen trips.
    — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of unlawful
Adjective
  • Fascism and communism are political systems designed to benefit society’s most inadequate and corrupt.
    — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 7 Sep. 2026
  • This is the most corrupt administration in the history of America, and what corruption really is is stealing from my constituents.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of corrupt
Adjective
  • The event cast Democrats as too left wing, describing them as communists, anti-American or even evil.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Reuniting Bullock and Kidman as Sally and Gillian Owens, the dark fantasy rom-com catches up with the sisters 28 years after their last face-off with evil forces.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of evil
Adjective
  • My prescribed low-carb, caffeine-free diet sounded horrifying on paper, but my sinful pleasures were replaced with a tasty, high-quality, and healthy alternative that left me more energized.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 July 2026
  • Critics also have challenged the report’s characterization of cases involving women, contending these were consensual affairs that were sinful but not abusive.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 June 2026
Definition of sinful
Adjective
  • These shortages increase costs and a vicious cycle for folks who need a rung.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Nobody comes off well; if anything, the snooty German Jews almost seem more vicious than the right-wing plotters, who are presented as mercenary and power-hungry rather than ideological.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of vicious
Adjective
  • The accident was one of the Portuguese capital’s worst tragedies in recent memory and cast a shadow over the city’s ongoing tourism boom.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The must-read Falling during a hike can lead to a serious injury, or even worse.
    — Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of bad

Browse Nearby Words

unessential
unethical
unethically
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Cite this Entry

“Unethical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unethical. Accessed 11 Sep. 2026.

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