unscrupulous

1 of 2

adjective

un·​scru·​pu·​lous ˌən-ˈskrü-pyə-ləs How to pronounce unscrupulous (audio)
Synonyms of unscrupulous
: not scrupulous : unprincipled
… replicas that unscrupulous shopkeepers may sometimes try to palm off as the real thing.Geri Trotta
unscrupulously adverb
unscrupulousness noun

unscrupulousness

2 of 2

noun

un·​scrupulousness
"+
: the quality or state of being unscrupulous

Examples of unscrupulous in a Sentence

Adjective an unscrupulous businessman manipulated them into selling their land for practically nothing
Recent Examples on the Web
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Adjective
The Khmer Rouge lost power in 1979, but fighting and instability continued for decades, leaving Cambodia's temples unprotected and vulnerable… easy targets for unscrupulous antiquities dealers like Douglas Latchford. Anderson Cooper, CBS News, 28 June 2026 At age 11, my favorite Broadway show was Follies – a classic preteen tale about the decay of female beauty and fading fame within an unscrupulous industry of vaudeville and burlesque. Greg Evans, Deadline, 27 June 2026 And some unscrupulous companies are banking on your burnout. Christopher Elliott, USA Today, 26 June 2026 But along with the surge of people hitting the roads and skies, so are unscrupulous scammers preying on them. Michael Cappetta, Travel + Leisure, 18 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for unscrupulous

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1803, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unscrupulous was in 1803

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Unscrupulous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unscrupulous. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.

Kids Definition

unscrupulous

adjective
un·​scru·​pu·​lous ˌən-ˈskrü-pyə-ləs How to pronounce unscrupulous (audio)
ˈən-
: not scrupulous : unprincipled
unscrupulously adverb
unscrupulousness noun

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