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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unethical
The dangers of replicating humans and the potential for unethical abuse of the technology are stressed in a dour warning by a senior official on Earth, played with fiery authority in her final screen role by the redoubtable Haydn Gwynne, to whom the film is dedicated.
—
David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Feb. 2025
San Diego should not be in the business of profiting from animal abuse or unethical practices.
—U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Jan. 2025
Trump’s order was denounced by Democrats including Sen. Patty Murray, a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, who called the action unconscionable and unethical.
—Collin Binkley, Chicago Tribune, 14 Feb. 2025
Public pressure has led companies to drop controversial figures, improve labor practices, and cut ties with unethical suppliers.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 12 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unethical
David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Feb. 2025
San Diego should not be in the business of profiting from animal abuse or unethical practices.
—U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Jan. 2025
Trump’s order was denounced by Democrats including Sen. Patty Murray, a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, who called the action unconscionable and unethical.
—Collin Binkley, Chicago Tribune, 14 Feb. 2025
Public pressure has led companies to drop controversial figures, improve labor practices, and cut ties with unethical suppliers.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 12 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unethical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unethical
Adjective
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Under Taliban rule, morality laws are strictly enforced, and activities considered immoral or against Islamic principles—such as pornography, adultery, or LGBTQ+ content—are harshly punished.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
28 Feb. 2025
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Some view his proposal to take over Gaza as outlandish or immoral, and are no fans of Israel’s right-wing government.—
Katie Glueck,
New York Times,
15 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Yet in 2016-17, free from midweek continental trips, Conte’s side stormed to the title with 93 points, spearheaded by a ruthless Diego Costa.—
Conor O'Neill,
The Athletic,
21 Feb. 2025
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Rendezvous Views The Island has been infused with an abundance of Bars, and now every opportunist is out to hit the jackpot including the ruthless crime kingpin Fletcher Kane.—
Tom Rogers,
Newsweek,
21 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Their actions have sparked numerous lawsuits, and on Thursday, a federal judge in California found that the mass firings of probationary employees were likely unlawful.—
Kristin Brown,
CBS News,
28 Feb. 2025
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Alsup’s order is a temporary measure that requires OPM to notify agencies that its directive was unlawful.—
Ashley Oliver,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
28 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The scene in which Anderson single-handedly faces down both the corrupt deputy and the Klan’s most murderous henchman is a master class in range.—
Mary McNamara,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Mar. 2025
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Schwarz sees the blackout as a way for Americans to use their economic might in the form of their purchasing power to fight corporate greed and corrupt politicians.—
Anne Marie Lee,
CBS News,
28 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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That being said, there are numerous dire consequences due to AI performing potentially evil acts or being used by evildoers.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes,
21 Feb. 2025
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My Little Puny sparkles in a double role as the prince and the fairy godmother, but Tabitha is a scene-stealing vamping diva as the evil stepmother.—
Barry Levitt,
Vulture,
21 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The dominant Christian theology of the Middle Ages held that wealth was inherently sinful in a world where most people toiled in terrible poverty.—
Brian Klaas,
The Atlantic,
7 Feb. 2025
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The concept of sinful sexuality and the lack of education around it is a clever mechanism to disconnect individuals from their inner source of power.—
Leo Barraclough,
Variety,
22 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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More than 80 women went public with horrific tales of his brutal, coercive and punishing tactics, including launching vicious, career-crippling smear campaigns against those who eluded him, from Mira Sorvino to Ashley Judd.—
Scott Huver,
The Hollywood Reporter,
28 Feb. 2025
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Rushdie has since spoken out about the stabbing Rushdie, 77, testified in the Chautauqua County, New York trial and detailed the vicious attack that upended his life.—
Alana Wise,
NPR,
21 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The state of our budget and our debt is bad for the country and bad for working families.—
Charlotte Alter,
TIME,
28 Feb. 2025
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And if that wasn’t bad enough, in extremely rare circumstances, neurologic fallout from measles is delayed, showing up 7 to 10 years post-infection as subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, a degenerative disease that is ultimately fatal, Dr. Lovins says.—
Erica Sloan,
SELF,
28 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unethical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unethical. Accessed 5 Mar. 2025.
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