undue

adjective

un·​due ˌən-ˈdü 

-ˈdyü

1

: not due : not yet payable

2

: exceeding or violating propriety or fitness : excessive

undue force

Synonyms

• baroque
• devilish
• excessive
• exorbitant
• extravagant
• extreme
• fancy
• immoderate
• inordinate
• insane
• intolerable
• lavish
• overdue
• overextravagant
• overmuch
• overweening
• plethoric
• steep
• stiff
• towering
• unconscionable
• unmerciful

Examples of undue in a Sentence

These requirements shouldn't cause you any undue hardship.

His writing is elegant without calling undue attention to itself.

Recent Examples on the Web

Regulatory capture, where industries exert undue influence over government agencies, remains a serious concern, notes the Union of Concerned Scientists in the report cited above. —Aissa Dearing, JSTOR Daily, 4 Nov. 2024

This approach can help create a sense of ownership within your team because everyone becomes aware that matters are being handled effectively and without undue delay. 4. —Chris Kille, Forbes, 14 Oct. 2024

Stakeholders want to create jobs without putting an undue burden on the state’s finances. —Katie Kilkenny, The Hollywood Reporter, 29 Oct. 2024

Footnotes *To avoid giving prolific pollsters undue influence, the calculations in this article downweight polls from pollsters that conduct a lot of polls. —Nathaniel Rakich, ABC News, 25 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

undue

adjective

un·​due ˌən-ˈd(y)ü 

1

: not due

2

: excessive

undue profit

Legal Definition

undue

adjective

un·​due ˌən-ˈdü, -ˈdyü 

1

: not due : not yet payable

an undue bill

2

: exceeding or violating propriety or fitness

would impose undue hardship on the debtors

such a requirement would place an undue burden on employers