as in foul
not being in accordance with the rules or standards of what is fair in sport
was suspended for unsportsmanlike conduct
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Recent Examples of unsportsmanlike
Tre’davious White, who was called for the second one that moved the ball to Buffalo’s 8, threw his helmet down in disgust while arguing and got an unsportsmanlike-conduct penalty.
—
Rob Maaddi, Baltimore Sun, 19 Jan. 2026
Foligno tried to fight Kesselring in response, but the linesmen wouldn’t allow it after the goal, and each got unsportsmanlike conduct penalties.
—Michael Russo, New York Times, 17 Jan. 2026
There were multiple controversial calls in this game, including an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on a Chris Boswell field goal attempt for the Steelers that the NFL admitted was wrong.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 8 Dec. 2025
Not for Elliss, but Giants tight end Theo Johnson who instigated a fight on the sideline and drew an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 2 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unsportsmanlike
Rob Maaddi, Baltimore Sun, 19 Jan. 2026
Foligno tried to fight Kesselring in response, but the linesmen wouldn’t allow it after the goal, and each got unsportsmanlike conduct penalties.
—Michael Russo, New York Times, 17 Jan. 2026
There were multiple controversial calls in this game, including an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on a Chris Boswell field goal attempt for the Steelers that the NFL admitted was wrong.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 8 Dec. 2025
Not for Elliss, but Giants tight end Theo Johnson who instigated a fight on the sideline and drew an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 2 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unsportsmanlike
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unsportsmanlike
Adjective
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The turf gets hot in the heat of the day and urine and feces will create foul odors that won’t rinse away.—
Caron Golden,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
21 Mar. 2026
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Clemson took a 64-61 lead halfway through the extra period on Moore's foul shot and a basket by Rachael Rose.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
21 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The number of debt collection reports — consumer complaints against unfair collection practices — filed to government agencies has surged in the past two years in the D-FW area, according to Federal Trade Commission statistics.—
William Tong,
Dallas Morning News,
20 Mar. 2026
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These wagers seem unfair and dangerous, and bets related to the Iran war — which traded over $675 million on Polymarket — feel morbid and sordid.—
Max Raskin,
Washington Post,
19 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Louisville police say anything that goes into the air or explodes is illegal for average citizens.—
James Bruggers,
The Courier-Journal,
5 July 2017
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Official fireworks shows took place over the city, and illegal pyrotechnics lit up the sky everywhere in between.—
Lisa Beebe,
Los Angeles Magazine,
5 July 2017
Adjective
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Based on a tragic true-life incident, director Joe Carnahan's survival thriller stars Zachary Levi as one of four friends who head out on a fishing expedition and their boat capsizes in a nasty storm.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
20 Mar. 2026
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Murder by Numbers is an entertainingly nasty thriller about two high-schoolers, popular Richard (Gosling) and introverted Justin (Michael Pitt), who plan the perfect murder and frame a local drug dealer for it.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
20 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unsportsmanlike.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unsportsmanlike. Accessed 24 Mar. 2026.
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