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 adverb

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.
By and large, consumers are more skeptical of brands’ sustainability messaging; some 60 percent now avoid products from untrustworthy or unethical sources, per the report. Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 14 May 2026 The evidence that Latifi collects in Like, Follow, Subscribe could easily support the conclusion that family influencing is unethical, full stop. Kristen Martin, The Atlantic, 13 May 2026 Gunty demonstrated a pattern of unethical business practices over a private-equity career spanning three decades, USA TODAY’s investigation found. Kenny Jacoby, USA Today, 7 May 2026 Those who don’t conform deserve punishment to show the public that unethical behavior is not tolerated. The New Yorker, New Yorker, 4 May 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

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Cite this Entry

“Unethical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unethical. Accessed 20 May. 2026.

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