Synonyms of unhealthy

unhealthy

adjective

ˌən-ˈhel-thē 

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

• poisonous
• toxic
• unhealthful
• unwholesome
• sickly
• noxious
• insalubrious
• unsanitary
• noisome
• unhygienic
• insanitary
• lethal
• fatal
• germy
• nonnutritious
• mortal

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• healthy
• healthful
• sanitary
• hygienic
• nutritious

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

• dangerous
• hazardous
• risky
• perilous
• serious
• unsafe
• precarious
• menacing
• treacherous
• threatening
• grievous
• grave
• random
• venturesome
• harmful
• parlous
• detrimental
• destructive
• unpleasant
• jeopardizing
• uncertain
• bad
• fatal
• insecure
• sickening
• ugly
• adverse
• haphazard
• lethal
• injurious
• deadly
• pernicious
• deleterious
• malignant
• nasty
• distressing
• murderous
• evil
• hurtful
• noxious
• dicey
• chance
• ultrahazardous
• fell
• baneful
• wicked
• ill
• killer
• inimical
• dire
• mortal
• baleful
• pestilent
• fateful
• deathly

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• safe
• harmless
• innocuous
• innocent
• beneficial
• nonhazardous
• good
• nonthreatening
• advantageous
• unthreatening
• ultrasafe

3

as in sick

temporarily suffering from a disorder of the body

she's been unhealthy for almost a week now

Synonyms & Similar Words

• sick
• bad
• poorly
• ill
• down
• unsound
• weak
• unwell
• shaky
• dizzy
• ailing
• out of sorts
• peaky
• sickened
• under the weather
• peaked
• fragile
• punk
• indisposed
• troubled
• symptomatic
• run-down
• diseased
• sickish
• lousy
• seedy
• disabled
• nauseous
• feeble
• disordered
• sickly
• queasy
• squeamish
• cruddy
• invalid
• nauseated
• woozy
• feverish
• frail
• decrepit
• achy
• weakly
• afflicted
• debilitated
• seasick
• infirm
• hypochondriacal
• airsick
• qualmish
• incapacitated
• hypochondriac
• light-headed
• carsick

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• healthy
• whole
• healthful
• wholesome
• well
• sound
• hale
• better
• conditioned
• fit
• cured
• able-bodied
• improved
• strong
• recovering
• tough
• robust
• hardy
• well-conditioned
• lusty
• mending
• hearty
• rugged
• thriving
• flourishing
• stalwart
• bouncing
• blooming
• flush
• chipper
• rehabilitated
• recuperating
• convalescing

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of unhealthy

Due to the growing Gann Fire, much of the Sierra foothills will experience unhealthy AQI values over the coming days. — Sean MacAday, Sacbee.com, 5 Aug. 2026

This means that Philly residents face unhealthy air exposure throughout the year. — Mahbubur Meenar, The Conversation, 5 Aug. 2026

It’s commonly seen as too loud, too expensive, too unhealthy, too environmentally unfriendly, and an unnecessary eyesore that requires a lot of red tape between landlords and city permits to procure. — Morgan Simon, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026

The air district is warning residents that wildfire smoke contains fine particulate matter and other harmful pollutants, adding that exposure is unhealthy, even for short periods of time. — Tim Fang, CBS News, 4 Aug. 2026