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unhealthy

adjective

ˌən-ˈhel-thē How to pronounce unhealthy (audio)
Definition of unhealthynext
1
as in poisonous
bad for the well-being of the body we knew that the junk food at the carnival was unhealthy, but it tasted so good!

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in dangerous
involving potential loss or injury criticism of the military dictatorship has proved to be unhealthy for several of that nation's journalists

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in sick
temporarily suffering from a disorder of the body she's been unhealthy for almost a week now

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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 unhealthy The new findings are striking since higher levels of AST and ALT are sometimes a sign of an unhealthy liver, and certain conditions such as liver diseases or infections can cause elevated levels. — Jacqueline Howard, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2026 At the same time, wearables, like smart rings and watches, are transforming the way everyday people view sleep, turning their resting hours into rich datasets to pore over, sometimes to unhealthy obsessive levels. — Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 9 Sep. 2026 According to the Bay Area Air District, air quality is expected to reach unhealthy levels Wednesday. — Tim Fang, CBS News, 9 Sep. 2026 The advisory warned that significant rainfall since Saturday was expected to produce runoff from storm drains and rivers and create unhealthy conditions for swimmers. — ABC News, 6 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unhealthy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unhealthy
  1. poisonous
  2. dangerous
  3. sick
  4. toxic
  5. hazardous
  6. bad
  7. unhealthful
  8. risky
Adjective
  • This can come with high levels of metals such as nickel and vanadium, which can damage engines, and sulfur, which can be poisonous to people.
    — Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 24 Sep. 2026
  • The fourth, the Indian rhinoceros, is vulnerable, its habitat shrinking rapidly as fragmented and isolated population groups spread across a shattered landscape littered with invasive plant species poisonous to the animals.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of poisonous
Adjective
  • Never mix vinegar with bleach, as the combination can create dangerous chlorine gas.
    — The Spruce, The Spruce, 20 Sep. 2026
  • As the news of the helicopter crash spread, media crews from the bus accident scene began rushing to the helicopter site and were told by law enforcement to evacuate because the situation was too dangerous, NBC4 footage showed.
    — Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of dangerous
Adjective
  • During the ride, Normandin-Parker's friend became sick and vomited in the car.
    — Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Humans should not touch or approach a dead or sick deer, and household animals should be kept away from carcasses, the center advises.
    — Gloria Casas, Chicago Tribune, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of sick
Adjective
  • Just as O’Malley and Rahill’s work is infatuated with toxic masculinity and fratty hopecore, Bensinger’s is obsessed with sheepish dude-empaths hiding beneath layers of uneasy bravado.
    — Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Human toothpaste, for example, can contain xylitol, which is toxic to dogs.
    — Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of toxic
Adjective
  • These include dynamic proton radiography, materials science, neutron scattering, and nuclear physics, all operating at a facility authorized to use hazardous materials and handle classified data.
    — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 19 Sep. 2026
  • In regards to what is happening on the streets of NYC — Kaporos — thousands of young Cornish chickens are kept in the streets in crates, in hazardous and dangerous conditions.
    — Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of hazardous
Adjective
  • This problem will only get worse, with new cancer cases projected to increase 67% by 2050.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 25 Sep. 2026
  • In a world where true-crime shows of both the fictional and nonfictional variety run rampant on our screens, that’s probably not a bad corporate strategy.
    — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of bad
Adjective
  • Warnings of unhealthful air quality remained in effect Saturday across a wide swath of the United States due to smoke from Canadian wildfires that has engulfed the Northeast in haze for days.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 18 July 2026
  • The soil may contain pathogens, pesticides and other unhealthful things.
    — Joan Morris, Mercury News, 9 Feb. 2026
Definition of unhealthful
Adjective
  • Within a year of creating the plan, lawmakers were confronted by allegations the insurance industry was using it as a dumping ground for its risky policies to maximize profit.
    — Paige St. John, Los Angeles Times, 20 Sep. 2026
  • Banks or trade partners may view a transaction as simply too risky.
    — Leila Gharagozlou, CNN Money, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of risky

Browse Nearby Words

unhealthiness
unhealthy
unheard-of
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Cite this Entry

“Unhealthy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unhealthy. Accessed 25 Sep. 2026.

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