unethical

adjective

un·​eth·​i·​cal ˌən-ˈe-thi-kəl How to pronounce unethical (audio)
Synonyms of unethical
: not conforming to a high moral standard : morally wrong : not ethical
illegal and unethical business practices
immoral and unethical behavior
unethically
ˌən-ˈe-thi-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce unethical (audio)
adverb

Synonyms of unethical

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Examples of unethical in a Sentence

unethical treatment of prisoners of war that was a clear violation of international law an unethical attorney, he had no qualms about getting off clients who he knew were guilty
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Also, many families of rare disease patients spend years creating databases, known as natural history studies, so they can be used as control groups in trials instead of giving patients a placebo, which is often impractical and unethical. — Gerry Smith, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2026 Adams, usually so conciliatory, plainly voices her disgust with the unethical Mexican clinic which gave McQueen false hope, and side-eyes his late-in-life turn to Christianity. — Hadley Hall Meares, Vanity Fair, 20 Oct. 2026 Their distress often resonates with fellow citizens who share concerns about unresponsive institutions and unethical governance. — The Monitor's Editorial Board, Christian Science Monitor, 19 Oct. 2026 It's regarded as wildly unethical and cruel, so the rationale for Netflix turning it into a TV show, where 30 people enter a real prison for two weeks, is hard to justify. — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 16 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unethical

Word History

First Known Use

1871, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unethical was in 1871

Rhymes for unethical

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Browse Nearby Words

unestimable
unethical
unetymological
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Cite this Entry

“Unethical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unethical. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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