unwholesome

adjective

ˌən-ˈhōl-səm How to pronounce unwholesome (audio)
Definition of unwholesomenext
1
as in poisonous
bad for the well-being of the body health inspectors shut down several food stands that were using tainted and unwholesome meat

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in corrupt
having or showing lowered moral character or standards despite having been raised in such unwholesome environments as a brothel and a traveling circus, singer Edith Piaf rose to international stardom

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 unwholesome Their jail is strange and unwholesome. — Robert Rubsam, The Atlantic, 26 Mar. 2026 Grievous bodily harm, nonconsensual drugging, murder, yes…still, thank god there’s nothing unwholesome here, like say a man in a dress. — Dennis Harvey, Variety, 14 Mar. 2026 The public, however, knew what to expect from this unwholesome mixture of politics and celebrity and didn’t tune in. — Sean Williams, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026 As for the place, its veneer of comfortable tourism doesn’t hide the air of something unwholesome, especially when female guests start randomly throwing up. — David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Feb. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unwholesome
  1. poisonous
  2. corrupt
  3. unhealthful
  4. degraded
  5. toxic
  6. sick
  7. unhealthy
  8. noxious
Adjective
  • Cane toads, large and poisonous invasive amphibians, pose a threat to Floridian pets, particularly during the State's rainy season.
    — Sarah Perkel, USA Today, 8 July 2026
  • Shrouded completely in a thick, poisonous cloud cover, its surface is obviously impossible to observe.
    — Mike Lynch, Twin Cities, 5 July 2026
Definition of poisonous
Adjective
  • But when it’s tied to a famously corrupt institution like FIFA, the claims of grave injustice intensify and feel almost like the buildup to war.
    — Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 14 July 2026
  • The Chinese variant actually stimulates economic activity as corrupt officials sell the rights to monetize unproductive state assets to private enterprises.
    — Andy Browne, semafor.com, 14 July 2026
Definition of corrupt
Adjective
  • From downtown Los Angeles to the San Gabriel Valley, tens of thousands were enveloped in unhealthful levels of smoke, even as some local officials told residents that the air posed no danger.
    — Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026
  • The soil may contain pathogens, pesticides and other unhealthful things.
    — Joan Morris, Mercury News, 9 Feb. 2026
Definition of unhealthful
Adjective
  • The result is not only deception, but degraded accountability.
    — Henry Bair, STAT, 14 July 2026
  • The nearly five-minute clip becomes progressively more degraded as the recording continues.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 10 July 2026
Definition of degraded
Adjective
  • In addition to administering the toxic combination of medications, Hemphill failed to recognize and treat signs of respiratory distress, and administered the incorrect reversal medication for the kind of drug the girl had been given, Spragins wrote.
    — Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 July 2026
  • How many malodorously toxic episodes does that make toward the seven plagues in the Old Testament?
    — Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 15 July 2026
Definition of toxic
Adjective
  • If a sick animal did end up at a slaughterhouse, the US Department of Agriculture’s thorough meat inspection system would very likely spot it, separate it from others and deem it US Suspect.
    — Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 5 July 2026
  • But when McGinley was a teen-ager, Michael became sick with AIDS and moved home to New Jersey.
    — Chris Wiley, New Yorker, 4 July 2026
Definition of sick
Adjective
  • But being a teenager can be isolating, confusing, and an emotional rollercoaster—and what can start as an attempt to find friends can quickly spiral into an unhealthy obsession.
    — Sherri Gordon, Parents, 10 July 2026
  • In an unhealthy one, the CEO speaks first, and the rest calibrate around the CEO's tone.
    — Janet M Harvey, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026
Definition of unhealthy
Adjective
  • Lineage hired contractors who are measuring this noxious gas and other pollution.
    — Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026
  • But the real pleasure is the 303 basslines that squirm in between the drums, coating the soundscapes of the tracks in grime and noxious soot.
    — Andrew Ryce, Pitchfork, 1 July 2026
Definition of noxious

Browse Nearby Words

unwellness
unwholesome
unwieldy
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Cite this Entry

“Unwholesome.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unwholesome. Accessed 18 Jul. 2026.

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