1
as in immoral
not conforming to a high moral standard; morally unacceptable
unethical treatment of prisoners of war that was a clear violation of international law
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in ruthless
not guided by or showing a concern for what is right
an unethical attorney, he had no qualms about getting off clients who he knew were guilty
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unethical
Most people likely think of the Medical Board of California as an enforcement body that protects the public from unsafe or unethical medical practice.
—
Marcus Friedman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 June 2025
Something can be considered ethical or unethical for many reasons, but people differ in which reasons matter most to their own moral compasses.
—Andrew Luttrell, Time, 24 June 2025
Such corporate espionage is the most extreme form of gathering unethical competitive intelligence.
—Chris Mele, Forbes.com, 5 June 2025
The licenses included rules that providers called unethical, including mandatory pelvic exams for women.
—arkansasonline.com, 5 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for unethical
Marcus Friedman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 June 2025
Something can be considered ethical or unethical for many reasons, but people differ in which reasons matter most to their own moral compasses.
—Andrew Luttrell, Time, 24 June 2025
Such corporate espionage is the most extreme form of gathering unethical competitive intelligence.
—Chris Mele, Forbes.com, 5 June 2025
The licenses included rules that providers called unethical, including mandatory pelvic exams for women.
—arkansasonline.com, 5 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for unethical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unethical
Adjective
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Basically, how others will judge you for moving on, if you’ll be seen as incompetent or immoral for quitting.—
Vicki Salemi,
Boston Herald,
20 July 2025
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With his opaque history and sources of wealth, his super-powerful friends and his immoral appetites, Epstein became the perfect avatar for our at-home Hollywood heroism.—
Steven Zeitchik,
HollywoodReporter,
19 July 2025
Adjective
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The initial plan was to use the Indigenous Taino population to work the fields, but this population was quickly decimated by genocidal conquest, ruthless working conditions as well as novel diseases brought by the Europeans.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 July 2025
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The role of Chris Partlow, Marlo Stanfield's top lieutenant and ruthless hitman, was the first screen credit for Gbenga Akinnagbe.—
Derek Lawrence,
EW.com,
29 July 2025
Adjective
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First, opponents argued that the rule was unlawful and that Congress would need to amend the statute to implement the changes proposed by DHS in its rule.—
Stuart Anderson,
Forbes.com,
21 July 2025
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He was arrested at 12:22 a.m. Friday for misdemeanor unlawful speeding and driving under the influence, a first-degree misdemeanor.—
Edgar Thompson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
19 July 2025
Adjective
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After decades when Ukraine was seen as one of the most corrupt countries in the world, cleaning up its government has been held up as the most important condition for Kyiv to join the European Union and integrate more broadly with the West.—
Olena Harmash,
USA Today,
23 July 2025
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That includes Kevin Bacon as corrupt corporate overlord Bob Garbinger, as well as Wood's Fritz, Bob's brother who runs a gang of lunatic henchmen called Killer Nutz.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
22 July 2025
Adjective
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Thanks to now-iconic moments like Bob Barker’s surprisingly physical cameo and a cast including Christopher McDonald as Happy’s cartoonishly evil rival Shooter McGavin, the movie became a cult classic.—
Skyler Trepel,
EW.com,
25 July 2025
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Evan Peters is the evil tech exec Julian Dillinger.—
Dessi Gomez,
Deadline,
25 July 2025
Adjective
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Growing up in rural Tennessee, my grandfather learned that certain activities — card playing, smoking, imbibing — were sinful.—
Peter Rowe,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 July 2025
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The therapy was the most spiritual, calming and sinful experience of Ingrid’s life.—
Carly Tagen-Dye,
People.com,
16 July 2025
Adjective
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Over time, this can create a vicious cycle where poor sleep and chronic anxiety feed into each other, creating a loop that damages your well-being.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
22 July 2025
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There was a scary moment later in the third quarter when Charlotte’s James Banks III hit Sacramento’s Dylan Cardwell with a vicious elbow to the face.—
Jason Anderson,
Sacbee.com,
21 July 2025
Adjective
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Earlier this month, employees at the Environmental Protection Agency, filed their own letter, with even worse results; 140 of them were placed on administrative leave.—
Jeffrey Kluger,
Time,
22 July 2025
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The alternative — keeping him around, highly paid and not played — would have been worse.—
David Ornstein,
New York Times,
22 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unethical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unethical. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
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