UNWHOLESOME Synonyms: 73 Similar and Opposite Words

unwholesome

adjective

ˌən-ˈhōl-səm

Definition of unwholesome

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

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

Adjective

Now, a poisonous residue on the same crowbar has left him incapacitated.

— Scott Tobias, Vulture, 21 Oct. 2026
This low-temperature, low-pressure hydrometallurgical method removes arsenic cleanly and operates without fossil fuels or poisonous gas emissions.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of poisonous

Adjective

Meanwhile, Democrats are strongly opposed to the kind of corrupt authoritarian government that Republicans seem unwilling to even speak out against.

— Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2026
The policy aims to make cadres more disciplined, effective and less corrupt.

— KANIS LEUNG, Arkansas Online, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of corrupt

Adjective

Warnings of unhealthful air quality remained in effect Saturday across a wide swath of the United States due to smoke from Canadian wildfires that has engulfed the Northeast in haze for days.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 18 July 2026
The soil may contain pathogens, pesticides and other unhealthful things.

— Joan Morris, Mercury News, 9 Feb. 2026

Definition of unhealthful

Adjective

Design choices previously thought to boost power, such as widening the gap between electrodes, actually degraded performance under true operating conditions.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 8 Oct. 2026
Initially, Pike’s attorneys and several death penalty experts raised the possibility that the drugs may have been too old or degraded to work as intended.

— Keri Blakinger, ProPublica, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of degraded

Adjective

And users can report inaccurate, toxic or harmful content by clicking the thumbs down icon shown at the bottom of the response.

— Robin Brewer, The Conversation, 26 Oct. 2026
Aside from the immediate vocal strain and airway inflammation noted by otolaryngologists, major health institutions warn that regular vaping exposes the body to a cocktail of toxic chemicals, cardiovascular strain and respiratory risks.

— Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of toxic

Adjective

Pediatric staff members bring Halloween, Christmas, Easter, New Year’s Eve and even the Tooth Fairy to hospitalized sick kids.

— Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 30 Oct. 2026
Documenting which children grew sickest and following an illness from house to house was a method aimed at articulating an explainable pattern.

— Jim Downs, STAT, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of sick

Adjective

For example, people taking the drugs typically consume fewer unhealthy foods and less alcohol in favor of healthier products.

— Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026
Schools in the state of Johor Bahru in Malaysia have also closed due to the air quality reaching unhealthy levels.

— Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of unhealthy

Adjective

The history between these men is more noxious than your garden-variety case of paternal neglect — there’s been emotional and physical abuse.

— Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2026
Yakuza organized ultra-nationalist outfits like the National Essence Society, which aimed to crush such noxious foreign influences as Marxism.

— Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of noxious

Browse Nearby Words

unwellness

unwholesome

unwieldy

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“Unwholesome.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unwholesome. Accessed 31 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of unwholesome

adjective

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