1
as in foolish
showing or marked by a lack of good sense or judgment
made the unwise decision to invest in a brand-new company
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in inappropriate
showing poor judgment especially in personal relationships or social situations
an unwise urge to confide in total strangers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in stupid
not having or showing a deep understanding of something
a stunningly unwise observer of the political scene
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unwise
Opponents said the bill’s lack of notification to school officials would make schools more dangerous, and attempting to relieve schools of their liability for gun-carrying employees would be ineffective and unwise.
—
Seth Tupper, States Newsroom, 3 Feb. 2026
The 2024 initiative was unwise, but voters approved it.
—The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 30 Jan. 2026
Handing over credit card or contact details to the people running these sites is, at best, unwise and, at worst, a recipe for malware and identity theft.
—Olivia Solon, Bloomberg, 27 Jan. 2026
Only 42 seconds after Will Cuylle's goal for New York, Fiala scored his 18th goal by intercepting an unwise pass by former Kings teammate Vladislav Gavrikov.
—CBS News, 20 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unwise
Seth Tupper, States Newsroom, 3 Feb. 2026
The 2024 initiative was unwise, but voters approved it.
—The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 30 Jan. 2026
Handing over credit card or contact details to the people running these sites is, at best, unwise and, at worst, a recipe for malware and identity theft.
—Olivia Solon, Bloomberg, 27 Jan. 2026
Only 42 seconds after Will Cuylle's goal for New York, Fiala scored his 18th goal by intercepting an unwise pass by former Kings teammate Vladislav Gavrikov.
—CBS News, 20 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unwise
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unwise
Adjective
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When federal policy creates an opportunity to bring additional resources into a state’s education ecosystem, leaders would be foolish to ignore it.—
Susana A. Mendoza,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Feb. 2026
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The fear of looking foolish lasts a moment.—
Brendan Keegan,
Rolling Stone,
18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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After Clark stepped down on Tuesday because an internal investigation unearthed an inappropriate relationship with a staff member, the union announced on Wednesday that Meyer will take over on an interim basis entering a pivotal year for the future of the sport.—
Andy McCullough,
New York Times,
19 Feb. 2026
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The Russia date has sparked backlash from fans, who argue that performing in Moscow during Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine is inappropriate.—
Rebecca Cairns,
CNN Money,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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But maybe Johnson isn’t stupid.—
Mark Z. Barabak,
Mercury News,
18 Feb. 2026
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Even in contemporary political and intellectual discourse, there remains an attachment to a particular stupid southern conservatism, the ideocratic confederacy.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Maybe the Pac-12 and Mountain West will look silly for not buying in, then watch as the NFC West bids against the Premier League and Marvel Cinematic Universe for the Hornets.—
Jason Kirk,
New York Times,
18 Feb. 2026
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Since then, the fizzy dance challenge has exploded on TikTok, with tons of fans re-creating the clip’s silly dance moves in their kitchens, parking garages, living rooms, Times Square and hospital corridors.—
Gil Kaufman,
Billboard,
18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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If a cost is found imprudent, it is rejected.—
Rory M. Christian,
New York Daily News,
24 Jan. 2026
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That’s imprudent, because the Arctic’s climate is changing more rapidly than anywhere on Earth.—
Paul Bierman,
Washington Post,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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These apps often default to a faster, dumber model.—
Matt Shumer,
Fortune,
11 Feb. 2026
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Who, other than dumb people like me, are gonna recruit high school kids?—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Over the past week, a slew of cinematic videos of celebrities and characters in absurd situations have gone viral online, with one commonality –– they were created using a new artificial intelligence tool from Chinese developer ByteDance, sparking anxiety over the fast-evolving capabilities of AI.—
Stephanie Yang,
CNN Money,
20 Feb. 2026
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What was turbulent and confused in me came out as absurd and ornate in him.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Yet complaints of improper and fraudulent enrollment have surged since the pandemic.—
Bloomberg Opinion,
Twin Cities,
15 Feb. 2026
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These symptoms can indicate bacterial or fungal problems, pests, or improper care like too much or too little water.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unwise.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unwise. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.
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