unfairly

adverb

Definition of unfairlynext
as in cruelly

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

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 unfairly At lunch, both Mary and Wilma expressed outrage that I’d been unfairly accused. — Literary Hub, 10 Aug. 2026 New Boston College men’s basketball coach Luke Murray, former UConn assistant, took some heat this week, unfairly, when the Eagles’ radio broadcasters were let go. — Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 9 Aug. 2026 Washington Examiner senior editor Peter Laffin pushed back against criticism that Republicans are unfairly targeting Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul el Sayed over his association with left-wing Twitch streamer Hasan Piker. — Kiara Moore, The Washington Examiner, 9 Aug. 2026 Reb Beach - Winger Of all the late 80s hair metal groups who got unfairly characterized as a bunch of no-talent hacks, Winger might be the most egregious victim. — Matt Reigle Outkick, FOXNews.com, 8 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unfairly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unfairly
  1. cruelly
  2. shabbily
  3. viciously
  4. heartlessly
  5. rudely
Adverb
  • Rubio did not finish the stage — his Tour cruelly over, just two days before Paris.
    — Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 24 July 2026
  • The practice was criticized by advocates and others as cruelly targeting rule followers as low-hanging fruit to meet quotas.
    — Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 20 July 2026
Definition of cruelly
Adverb
  • Her fury at Helios employees being treated so shabbily is matched only by her disbelief at Ger and his crew’s recklessness in allowing the consoles monitoring and controlling all of Happy Valley’s life-support systems and communications with the Titan mission unstaffed.
    — Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 1 May 2026
Definition of shabbily
Adverb
  • Enzo Fernandez, who already was booked for a first-half yellow card, viciously tackled Spanish defender Pau Cubarsí.
    — Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 19 July 2026
  • Yet somehow, two decades later, the viciously antisemitic Vichy regime planted itself in power; a shocking betrayal by France of some of its most loyal and generous supporters, in a dehumanizing toxic swamp of suspicion, judgment, envy.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 July 2026
Definition of viciously
Adverb
  • Victim Nyron Shaw’s father said the driver who mowed his son down last year in Ocean Hill a day before Independence Day should face the maximum penalty for allegedly driving twice the speed limit and heartlessly taking off, leaving his son to die.
    — Nicholas Williams, New York Daily News, 8 Apr. 2026
  • In the process, Joel heartlessly killed some innocent people, including medical professionals.
    — EW.com, EW.com, 26 Aug. 2025
Definition of heartlessly
Adverb
  • In your case, the truth is that this friend has been ruthlessly — and rudely — taking advantage of your good nature.
    — Judith Martin, Mercury News, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Ritter has disciplined Menapace after the lawmaker acted rudely or abusively to a committee clerk.
    — Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 2 May 2026
Definition of rudely

Browse Nearby Words

unfair
unfairly
unfairness
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Unfairly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unfairly. Accessed 19 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of balmy

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Is “GIF” Pronounced “Jiff” or “Giff”?

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of a green cube out of place in a lineup of red spheres
Odd Word Out: Synonyms Vol. 2 Quiz Figure out which word isn't like the others.
See All