1
as in immoral
not conforming to a high moral standard; morally unacceptable unethical treatment of prisoners of war that was a clear violation of international law

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2

Examples 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 unethical The biggest need our city faces is unethical and uncertified group homes, including sober living homes. Jonathan Horwitz, Orange County Register, 4 Oct. 2024 The group primarily backing the measure, Cats Are Not Trophies, argues that allowing these animals to be killed is unethical, unnecessary, and serving no public good. Jack Birle, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 2 Nov. 2024 As local government careens from one corruption scandal to the next, the city and county of Los Angeles each charged forward this election season with ballot measures to try to crack down on unethical behavior by public officials. Rebecca Ellis, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2024 Pressure And Expectations High expectations placed on leaders can lead to burnout, sometimes pushing them toward unethical behavior. Gabriel McCurtis, Forbes, 21 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for unethical 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unethical
Adjective
  • This term was derived from bawd, which referred to someone who encouraged immoral or promiscuous behavior, particularly a procuress or pimp.
    Erik Kain, Forbes, 27 Oct. 2024
  • Some senior officers mistakenly believe that the military is obligated to resist orders that are unethical or immoral.
    Peter D. Feaver, Foreign Affairs, 13 Sep. 2024
Adjective
  • Her wife and now-teenage daughter stood by her throughout the process, despite ruthless coverage from Mexican and Spanish news outlets, some of which continue to misgender and deadname her to this day.
    Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY, 21 Nov. 2024
  • The ruthless military officer with the monocle and the swagger stick who sends his men to senseless death and/or turns traitor.
    Mary McNamara, Los Angeles Times, 21 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • Court documents show a Maricopa County Superior Court grand jury indicted Jeffrey Michael Kelly on Oct. 29 on four counts of unlawful use of an infectious biological substance or radiological agent.
    Perry Vandell, The Arizona Republic, 5 Nov. 2024
  • Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner sued Musk and America PAC over the offer, calling it an unlawful lottery under Pennsylvania law and leading to Monday’s court hearing.
    David Ingram, NBC News, 4 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • Others, such as Sri Lanka, have oscillated back and forth, with more democratic presidents and corrupt populist autocrats alternating as leaders.
    Larry Diamond, Foreign Affairs, 8 Nov. 2024
  • Activists began showing up at election-board meetings with signs calling Lindsey corrupt.
    Jonathan Blitzer, The New Yorker, 2 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • The story of a farmer tasked with protecting a magic baby from an evil queen is not exactly the most original story in the world, but that hasn’t stopped this from becoming a classic, with Warwick Davis as Willow Ufgood and Val Kilmer waving a sword around.
    Jennifer M. Wood, WIRED, 21 Nov. 2024
  • The plot centers on Scott Pilgrim, a Canadian indie rock slacker who falls in love with a girl named Ramona Flowers and then has to fight her seven evil exes in video game-style battles.
    Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 20 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • Building a lexicon around shame creates an easy dichotomy − one that separates foods, and our desire for them, into good and bad, sinful and pure, moral and amoral.
    Anna Kaufman, USA TODAY, 3 Oct. 2024
  • To the media and many public observers, the tragedy cemented the architect’s sinful character.
    Katherine McLaughlin, Architectural Digest, 30 Sep. 2024
Adjective
  • That forces him to descend the 8,000-foot-and-higher safety zone of the Rocky Mountains, and into the lower-elevation danger zone where vicious monsters roam free.
    John Wenzel, The Denver Post, 14 Nov. 2024
  • Scott, the old pro, knows how to give these scenes a vicious vitality that overcomes any thoughts about how the Romans supposedly got live sharks in the water.
    Alison Willmore, Vulture, 11 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • Zach Wilson’s younger brother settled in as the game progressed, but then threw a bad INT in the fourth to end Utah’s comeback attempt.
    Kyle Newman, The Denver Post, 16 Nov. 2024
  • Dilettante listing brokers can also cost sellers with bad marketing, weird staging, and a lack of responsiveness.
    Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 14 Nov. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near unethical

Cite this Entry

“Unethical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unethical. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on unethical

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!