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!
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in sick
temporarily suffering from a disorder of the body
she's been unhealthy for almost a week now
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 unhealthy
Avoid over-pruning, cutting the wrong spots, and working on already-unhealthy trees.
—
Nishaa Sharma, The Spruce, 26 Feb. 2026
Therapists teach their clients how to set boundaries, express their needs clearly, navigate conflict, recognize unhealthy dynamics, repair after disagreements, and much more.
—Angela Haupt, Time, 24 Feb. 2026
Rantanen isn’t the only Star to return from the Olympics unhealthy.
—Lia Assimakopoulos, Dallas Morning News, 24 Feb. 2026
Using an unhealthy or unready starter can lead to a weak rise, a dense crumb, a flat loaf, or off flavors.
—Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 22 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unhealthy
Nishaa Sharma, The Spruce, 26 Feb. 2026
Therapists teach their clients how to set boundaries, express their needs clearly, navigate conflict, recognize unhealthy dynamics, repair after disagreements, and much more.
—Angela Haupt, Time, 24 Feb. 2026
Rantanen isn’t the only Star to return from the Olympics unhealthy.
—Lia Assimakopoulos, Dallas Morning News, 24 Feb. 2026
Using an unhealthy or unready starter can lead to a weak rise, a dense crumb, a flat loaf, or off flavors.
—Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 22 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unhealthy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unhealthy
Adjective
-
And in Season 11, before the game even started, castaways hiked 11 miles through the Guatemalan jungle—a 24-hour trek in 100-degree heat that resulted in one collapse, one biceps tear, one vomiting spell, and one puncture wound from a poisonous tree barb.—
Kristen Geil,
Outside,
24 Feb. 2026
-
This was always a question of what happens to this friend group when there’s a poisonous dynamic at the center?—
Hanna Wickes,
Charlotte Observer,
20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Standard sensors like cameras and lidar often fail in heavy rain, thick fog, or low light, creating dangerous blind spots.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Mar. 2026
-
But, even a light glaze can be highly dangerous when driving.—
Cutter Martin,
CBS News,
2 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
What’s really sick is how much sense the outcome makes.—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Other things that can make your pet sick include raisins, ibuprofen and pennies.—
Jane Sykes,
Washington Post,
2 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Greenpeace members scaled a chemical plant's smokestack to protest toxic pollution in 1981, and occupied a North Sea oil platform in 1995.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
27 Feb. 2026
-
Hypothesizing a possible explanation for the link between higher sugar substitute intake and accelerated cognitive decline, the researchers posited that sugar substitutes might produce toxic metabolites during digestion, which, in turn, have a damaging effect.—
Caroline Tien,
SELF,
27 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Large equipment can be hazardous to operate safely, and a large stump can outmatch a large skid steer.—
Daniel Scott,
Better Homes & Gardens,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Several people wearing hazardous materials gear walking into a home in Irvine where FBI officials are investigating suspicious materials that were found at a home laboratory.—
Michele Gile,
CBS News,
4 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The Lakers shot 50% from the field and 46% from three-point range in a dominant performance against the NBA’s worst team.—
Broderick Turner,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Louis Trotter’s second Bottega Veneta show at the brand’s headquarters in the Palazzo SanFedele, Palau sent models out in beanies that celebrated the beauty of a good-bad-hair day.—
Arden Fanning Andrews,
Vogue,
1 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The soil may contain pathogens, pesticides and other unhealthful things.—
Joan Morris,
Mercury News,
9 Feb. 2026
-
The change comes amid concerns about fireworks causing unhealthful air.—
Rong-Gong Lin II,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2025
Adjective
-
What enables someone to engage in this type of physically risky – even life-threatening – behavior?—
Catherine A. Sanderson,
The Conversation,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Stock market volatility now makes traditional investing risky and unpredictable.—
Matt Richardson,
CBS News,
3 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unhealthy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unhealthy. Accessed 6 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
