UNRIGHTEOUS Synonyms: 164 Similar and Opposite Words

unrighteous

adjective

ˌən-ˈrī-chəs

as in unlawful

not conforming to a high moral standard; morally unacceptable an unrighteous act that cannot go unpunished by the congregation

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 unrighteous Ivey recently described the LGBTQ community as unrighteous in a live stream from his Instagram account. —

Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 31 Mar. 2026 Ancient sacred writings teach us to avoid using unrighteous means to oppose the unrighteous demands of wicked rulers. —

Chris John Amorosino, Hartford Courant, 24 Feb. 2026 Spears writes of these unrighteous men matter-of-factly, avoiding the ad hominem attack, except for an occasional delicious arrow, including a recollection of the eternally white Timberlake meeting one of his rap heroes. —

Stephen Rodrick, Variety, 24 Oct. 2023 Christ himself suffered on account of sins, once for all, the righteous one on behalf of the unrighteous. —

Olivia Muenter, Woman's Day, 8 Feb. 2023 The millions who tune in to Carlson every night to get their outrage on should remember what their favorite host traffics in: bloviation, demagoguery and unrighteous indignation. —

Washington Post, 24 Feb. 2022 Many people, after all, think that the righteous should prosper and the unrighteous not. —

Kwame Anthony Appiah, New York Times, 27 July 2021 He’s gone through buzzard-hot streaks and some slumps, at times taking wholly unrighteous shots, and none of that matters to the shooting guard. —

Gordon Monson, The Salt Lake Tribune, 23 Apr. 2021

Recent Examples of Synonyms for unrighteous

Adjective

A’Jonya Shorter, 18, is charged with dangerous possession of a firearm, a Level 5 felony; possession of a firearm on school property, a Level 6 felony; and misdemeanor unlawful carrying of a handgun.

— Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 8 May 2026
The money, hidden in furniture, was never reported through standard police channels, prompting the former intelligence chief in 2022 to file a criminal complaint alleging a cover-up, money laundering, and unlawful use of Ramaphosa’s bodyguards to track down suspects.

— Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 8 May 2026