UNSANITARY Synonyms: 111 Similar and Opposite Words

unsanitary

adjective

Definition of unsanitary

as in filthy

not sanitary and likely to cause disease working under unsanitary conditions The bathroom facilities were unsanitary.

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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 unsanitary Government inspectors repeatedly found problems at Larry Wallach’s earlier businesses, including unsafe and unsanitary conditions for his sloths, kangaroos, tigers and capybaras, according to federal and state government records obtained by Inside Climate News. — Katie Surma, Sun Sentinel, 19 June 2026 Embarrassed by his unsanitary faux pas, Todd is left by himself on the couch while the grown-ups decamp to talk political strategy. — Hilary Lewis, HollywoodReporter, 16 June 2026 Before Haussmann’s works began in 1853, Paris was a dangerous and unsanitary medieval city, plagued by open-air sewers, poor living conditions, and cholera outbreaks. — Roberto Prieto, Variety, 16 June 2026 This isn't just unsanitary—the buildup of crud could eventually interfere with your mixer's moving parts. — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 11 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for unsanitary

Recent Examples of Synonyms for unsanitary

Adjective

Dozens of people had spent almost a year living outside, filthy and exhausted, and for what?

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 July 2026
From shabby apartments to art experiments to filthy needles—with echoes of Patti Smith and Rebecca Makkai—Adler conjures an era of sorrow borne by too many, too young.

— Hamilton Cain, Time, 7 July 2026

Definition of filthy

Adjective

The germ theory of disease was a huge step forward, helping doctors understand that polluted water sources spread disease, and then helping to develop antibiotics.

— Bill Conerly, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
By late Thursday afternoon, Chicago had overtaken Detroit, Minneapolis and Toronto as the most polluted major city in the world, according to Swiss air quality company IQAir.

— Finnegan Belleau, Chicago Tribune, 17 July 2026

Definition of polluted

Adjective

Let the cleaner sit for 15 minutes and blot the excess, or cover it with a damp cloth and leave it for up to 24 hours for heavily soiled or old, set-in spots.

— Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 26 June 2026
Quick wash is best for lightly worn clothes, not heavily soiled or stained items.

— Marisa Suzanne Martin, The Spruce, 29 May 2026

Definition of soiled

Adjective

Spain versus Argentina in the final 24 hours later was never going to be a purists’ classic, but what unfolded was undoubtedly the dirtiest final since 2010, when the Spanish also faced aggressive, uncompromising opponents — the Netherlands.

— Tim Spiers, New York Times, 20 July 2026
Some Roomba models from as far back as 2004 can still be found in some homes, working away on dirty floors.

— BestReviews, Mercury News, 20 July 2026

Definition of dirty

Adjective

Police detained Schmidt twice during the altercation, originally placing him into the police vehicle after the officer shot his black Labrador, according to eyewitness Paul Bates.

— Gabe White, Arkansas Online, 21 July 2026
In the coming years, more buildings aim to match the Waldorf’s height, including Dolce & Gabbana’s first foray into luxury homes and hotel rooms with a monumental matte black and ivory tower capped with gold.

— Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 21 July 2026

Definition of black

Adjective

Employees were observed to only sanitize their gloved hands after touching insanitary surfaces and then resumed touching RTE food and various food contact surfaces.

— Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 12 Jan. 2025
The company admitted that by January 2021 some employees were aware that the insanitary conditions were causing products to become contaminated.

— Kate Gibson, CBS News, 26 Feb. 2024

Definition of insanitary

Adjective

Rather, a messy conflict oscillating between bouts of strikes and periods of relative calm beckons, while mediators look for new avenues to revive negotiations.

— Tim Lister, CNN Money, 20 July 2026
This is an ideal arrangement for handling bulky or messy supplies for projects, or for letting maintenance personnel into the home to work on the mechanical systems.

— James Alexander, Hartford Courant, 19 July 2026

Definition of messy

Adjective

If Spain keep cool, then Argentina run hot; a warm-blooded, emotional, often chaotic side where performances swing wildly within games, never mind from one match to the next.

— Adam Crafton, New York Times, 20 July 2026
In the chaotic main event, Cody Rhodes defeated Gunther by DQ when Sami Zayn interfered, escalating tensions ahead of Saturday's tag match.

— Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 18 July 2026