unwarranted

adjective

un·​war·​rant·​ed ˌən-ˈwȯr-ən-təd How to pronounce unwarranted (audio)
-ˈwär-
: lacking adequate or official support : not warranted : unjustified
unwarranted fears
an unwarranted intrusion
Their criticism is unwarranted.

Examples of unwarranted in a Sentence

the committee concluded that any further revisions to the regulations were currently unwarranted don't leap to unwarranted conclusions
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.
Nelson Wiseman, professor emeritus of political science at the University of Toronto, said that Ford risks being accused of calling an unwarranted election, just a few years after having won a large mandate. Rob Gillies The Associated Press, arkansasonline.com, 25 Jan. 2025 Justice Jackson dissented, arguing that the emergency relief was unwarranted, as the government did not demonstrate sufficient urgency. Matthew F. Erskine, Forbes, 24 Jan. 2025 The next day, the childhood friend who was hosting the party defended Amanda, suggesting that while the slap was unwarranted, the woman had been insensitive by praising her thinness in front of someone plus-sized. Justin Gest, Newsweek, 20 Jan. 2025 Hayden further argued that with Peterson now serving a 10-year prison sentence in California, the order was unwarranted. Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 9 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for unwarranted 

Word History

First Known Use

1577, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unwarranted was in 1577

Dictionary Entries Near unwarranted

Cite this Entry

“Unwarranted.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unwarranted. Accessed 29 Jan. 2025.

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