as in poisonous
bad for the well-being of the body
the unhealthful level of smog in the city
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Recent Examples of unhealthful
Health professionals encourage people to use lean cuts of meat because most of the fat in animal products is unhealthful saturated fat, which can raise the risk of heart disease and cancer.
—
Bethany Thayer, Detroit Free Press, 22 June 2024
With fire comes unhealthful smoke, which also threatens air quality for much of the U.S.
Wildfire smoke blankets much of the East
Many of the areas experiencing wildfire smoke will see moderate air quality for the next several days, according to the U.S. Air Quality Index.
—Janet Loehrke, USA TODAY, 21 June 2024
The map is color-coded to indicate whether the air is good, unhealthful or hazardous.
—Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 17 June 2024
In Los Angeles County, however, residents should avoid the water at certain coastal locations because the bacterial levels reached unhealthful levels when last tested, according to an L.A. County Department of Public Health news release.
—Summer Lin, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2024
See All Example Sentences for unhealthful
Bethany Thayer, Detroit Free Press, 22 June 2024
With fire comes unhealthful smoke, which also threatens air quality for much of the U.S.
Wildfire smoke blankets much of the East
Many of the areas experiencing wildfire smoke will see moderate air quality for the next several days, according to the U.S. Air Quality Index.
—Janet Loehrke, USA TODAY, 21 June 2024
The map is color-coded to indicate whether the air is good, unhealthful or hazardous.
—Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 17 June 2024
In Los Angeles County, however, residents should avoid the water at certain coastal locations because the bacterial levels reached unhealthful levels when last tested, according to an L.A. County Department of Public Health news release.
—Summer Lin, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2024
See All Example Sentences for unhealthful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unhealthful
Adjective
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But Palpatine's genius is less about those poisonous whispers than his plot to isolate Anakin from his friends.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
24 Apr. 2025
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The Big Bay Boom fireworks create a toxic fog of fine particles, poisonous aerosols and heavy metals that harm air, water and soil — posing serious risks to birds, wildlife, pets and people.—
U T Readers,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
22 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Green 1 and 2: Both banned in 1965 due to a potential link to cancer. Sudan 1 and Butter Yellow: Banned in 1919 after it was found to be toxic and potentially carcinogenic.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
24 Apr. 2025
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However, two new studies suggest that mattresses firm enough for a child to sleep on safely may emit toxic chemicals that previous research indicates are linked to developmental delays and endocrine system disruptions.—
Beth Ann Mayer,
Parents,
23 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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April 2025 The Devil: April calls you to confront any attachments or patterns that may be holding you back, Scorpio, as The Devil urges you to break free from unhealthy cycles.—
Meghan Rose,
Glamour,
1 May 2025
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In addition to direct health issues, MASH is linked to metabolic syndrome -- a group of conditions including high blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess belly fat and unhealthy cholesterol levels.—
Allen Chang,
ABC News,
30 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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As for the place, its veneer of comfortable tourism doesn’t hide the air of something unwholesome, especially when female guests start randomly throwing up.—
David Rooney,
The Hollywood Reporter,
16 Feb. 2024
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Less visibly, Manton operated a side business with a more unwholesome objective: cashing in on his status and power as a judge.—
Time,
Time,
25 July 2023
Adjective
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These figures paint a disconcerting picture of the country’s efforts to combat noxious air quality, an ambition established with the original passage of the Clean Air Act in 1963 and reinforced by numerous amendments since.—
Henna Hundal,
Forbes.com,
1 May 2025
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As always, Trump is buoyed by his firm grip on the GOP and the noxious and juvenile nature of his opposition.—
The Editors,
National Review,
29 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Two figures, Gavin Williamson, the education secretary who has blown hot and cold over whether children can go back to school, and Robert Jenrick, the local-government minister, who is entangled in a scandal with an insalubrious party donor, look particularly dismal.—
The Economist,
The Economist,
20 June 2020
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The refuse rising in insalubrious piles, some taller than the pedestrians trying to avoid them, is a smelly, visceral symbol of popular outrage at the government’s plan.—
Catherine Porter,
New York Times,
15 Mar. 2023
Adjective
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But does that mean that vegans are going against human’s evolutionary history and are bound to be weak, sickly, and even stupid?—
Marianne Krasny,
Forbes.com,
31 Mar. 2025
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The collection of slab-like columns by Derek McLane, lit in sickly, sullen colors by Natasha Katz, could be anywhere.—
Jesse Green,
New York Times,
24 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unhealthful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unhealthful. Accessed 7 May. 2025.
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