unhealthy
adjective
un·healthy
ˌən-ˈhel-thē 
unhealthier; unhealthiest
1
: not conducive to health : not healthful
an unhealthy climate
unhealthy habits
unhealthy foods
Examples of unhealthy in a Sentence
Her skin looks blotchy and unhealthy.
Tests revealed an unhealthy level of lead in the water.
Eating honey can be unhealthy for babies.
He was stuck in an unhealthy relationship.
She has an unhealthy interest in natural disasters.
Recent Examples on the Web
Longtime friend’s insistence on giving fixes, not sympathy, has the letter writer questioning unhealthy patterns.
—
Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 20 Feb. 2026
Morin says these conversations can strengthen a healthy relationship, or point out flaws in an unhealthy one, such as if your partner fails to take you seriously or belittles your feelings.
—Alyssa Goldberg, USA Today, 20 Feb. 2026
Reynolds’ proposal would require Iowa to continue seeking a federal waiver to prevent Iowans from using Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) dollars to buy unhealthy foods such as pop, candy and more.
—Stephen Gruber-Miller, Des Moines Register, 20 Feb. 2026
Monitors labeled in green indicate good air quality; yellow indicates moderate air quality; orange lets residents know that the air is unhealthy for sensitive groups.
—Alexandra Simon, CBS News, 18 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unhealthy
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Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 20 Feb. 2026
Morin says these conversations can strengthen a healthy relationship, or point out flaws in an unhealthy one, such as if your partner fails to take you seriously or belittles your feelings.
—Alyssa Goldberg, USA Today, 20 Feb. 2026
Reynolds’ proposal would require Iowa to continue seeking a federal waiver to prevent Iowans from using Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) dollars to buy unhealthy foods such as pop, candy and more.
—Stephen Gruber-Miller, Des Moines Register, 20 Feb. 2026
Monitors labeled in green indicate good air quality; yellow indicates moderate air quality; orange lets residents know that the air is unhealthy for sensitive groups.
—Alexandra Simon, CBS News, 18 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unhealthy
Cite this Entry
“Unhealthy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unhealthy. Accessed 26 Feb. 2026.
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