as in immoral
not guided by or showing a concern for what is right
an unprincipled businessman who made a lot of money—and didn't care how he did it
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Recent Examples of unprincipled
Antoni is that rarity who has drawn harsh criticism from economists on the right as well as the mainstream for being ignorant, unprincipled, and incompetent.
—
Robert B. Reich, Hartford Courant, 21 Aug. 2025
She is utterly disillusioned with the ugly transformations of leftist leaders, such as Daniel Ortega of Nicaragua and Evo Morales of Bolivia, into unprincipled strongmen.
—Foreign Affairs, 19 Aug. 2025
Parrilla has the more complex role; Bruiser is unprincipled and lacking in shame, yet generally correct and fair.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 14 Aug. 2025
The deficient vice of integrity is being fake, untruthful, inconsistent, unprincipled, and manipulative.
—Mary Crossan, Forbes.com, 17 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for unprincipled
Robert B. Reich, Hartford Courant, 21 Aug. 2025
She is utterly disillusioned with the ugly transformations of leftist leaders, such as Daniel Ortega of Nicaragua and Evo Morales of Bolivia, into unprincipled strongmen.
—Foreign Affairs, 19 Aug. 2025
Parrilla has the more complex role; Bruiser is unprincipled and lacking in shame, yet generally correct and fair.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 14 Aug. 2025
The deficient vice of integrity is being fake, untruthful, inconsistent, unprincipled, and manipulative.
—Mary Crossan, Forbes.com, 17 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for unprincipled
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unprincipled
Adjective
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In addition to being immoral, CFA’s support for BDS likely violates state law, AB 2844, which prohibits California from contracting with entities that engage in discrimination, including against Jews or Israelis.—
Mark Pinkert,
Oc Register,
23 Dec. 2025
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The film follows the deliciously immoral, widowed Lady Susan Vernon (Kate Beckinsale), who maneuvers, deceives and seduces her way through London and across her relatives' country estates in an effort to find a wealthy husband for herself and her daughter, Frederica (Morfydd Clark).—
Andrea Wurzburger,
PEOPLE,
29 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Grant me ruthless access to the psychological image, discomfortable mercy.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
22 Jan. 2026
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His new persona as a fighting moderate, a Democrat in tune with the country’s shifting desires and ruthless toward the man at the top, deftly speaks to the needs of a party desperate to regain the White House.—
Jonathan Chait,
The Atlantic,
22 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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In 2023, one driver told The Post that word of the program — which could net unscrupulous drivers thousands of dollars each day — was passed along by word of mouth.—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
21 Jan. 2026
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Kyle goes to prison in what appears to be a selfless act to protect the Kingstown Police Department from the prosecution at the risk of their unscrupulous tactics being exposed, and protecting his brother Mike.—
Demetrius Patterson,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Rooting out corrupt generals and criminal networks could take months, or even years.—
Dexter Filkins,
New Yorker,
12 Jan. 2026
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Certainly, part of the way to improve Venezuela and to improve the Western Hemisphere and improve the lives of Americans is to get their very corrupt 25 years in decline, oil industry back going again.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
11 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unprincipled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unprincipled. Accessed 28 Jan. 2026.
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