UNWISE Synonyms: 198 Similar and Opposite Words

unwise

adjective

ˌən-ˈwīz

Definition of unwise

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in inappropriate

showing poor judgment especially in personal relationships or social situations an unwise urge to confide in total strangers

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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 unwise Commanders should seek positional advantages without exhausting their soldiers, manipulate the enemy’s movements when possible, and recognize when circumstances make pursuit or attack unwise. — Ethan Teekah, Encyclopedia Britannica, 11 Sep. 2026 Like Shylock, Kaftan is persuaded by a Gentile into making an unwise and ultimately dangerous investment. — Literary Hub, 9 Sep. 2026 Skeptics warn that fast-tracking unconventional technology through safety reviews is an unwise risk. — Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 6 Sep. 2026 But in a season with so much on the line, the Jets would be unwise to have Klubnik be the first player off the bench if Smith were to suffer an injury. — Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 15 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unwise

Recent Examples of Synonyms for unwise

Adjective

The descent into foolish and self-destructive groupthink provides the drama.

— Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 24 Oct. 2026
But Ohtani also struck out three times Thursday — made to look foolish in a much-too-familiar way.

— Mirjam Swanson, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of foolish

Adjective

Her colleagues voted twice last year to censure her for inappropriate criticism of city employees.

— Alene Tchekmedyian, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
Specifically, Pickard said his understanding of the immunity deal is that his testimony about adultery and an inappropriate relationship cannot be used against him as part of the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

— Matt Schooley, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of inappropriate

Adjective

But also, the audience is not used to people delivering blunt questions — no matter how stupid the answer.

— Jade Tran, Washington Post, 19 Oct. 2026
Pierce and Kember were born in the same place on the same day, a lore-enhancing coincidence too stupid to make up.

— Gabriel Szatan, Pitchfork, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of stupid

Adjective

The Wu-Tang Clan's mastermind has carved out a second career directing mid-level action flicks, and last year's One Spoon of Chocolate is a solid if silly movie.

— K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 23 Oct. 2026
Most phone apps look silly this way, especially those still running as standard iPhone apps, which look normal but with lots of black padding on either side.

— Nilay Patel, The Verge, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of silly

Adjective

The itinerants were all a bit peculiar, capable of making imprudent choices.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 July 2026
And this is Minsky’s point, that speculative excesses during euphoric, transformative periods result in imprudent financing, fragility, and instability.

— Hersh Shefrin, Forbes.com, 4 June 2026

Definition of imprudent

Adjective

And that's exactly where Glenn was for the second time this season — guilty of the dumbest moment of the week.

— Armando Salguero OutKick, FOXNews.com, 26 Oct. 2026
There’s a dumb ending, involving the Bewitched theme and Dennis Rodman discussing the perils of adult illiteracy (sure), but everything before that is pretty fun, including the Bumblebee Man turning into a bumblebee and Lisa into Albert Einstein.

— Joshua Kurp, Vulture, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of dumb

Adjective

As insufferable and absurd as that was, Murphy continued in the middle of the 2026 season, acting like his team's biggest division rival had also not heard of his players who were currently in first place.

— Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2026
But its ludicrous potential price tag isn’t the only absurd thing.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of absurd

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unwisdom

unwise

unwisely

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Style

“Unwise.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unwise. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of unwise

adjective

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