unethical
adjective
un·eth·i·cal
ˌən-ˈe-thi-kəl 
: not conforming to a high moral standard : morally wrong : not ethical
illegal and unethical business practices
immoral and unethical behavior
Examples of unethical in a Sentence
unethical treatment of prisoners of war that was a clear violation of international law
an unethical attorney, he had no qualms about getting off clients who he knew were guilty
Recent Examples on the Web
Those who don’t conform deserve punishment to show the public that unethical behavior is not tolerated.
—
The New Yorker, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
Some view the trade as unethical, but Americans already eat more than 130 million pigs every year, and pig, cow and even shark tissue have long been used in medical settings.
—Karen Weintraub, USA Today, 3 May 2026
Under Maryland's executive order, any state employee conducting unethical behavior must be reported to the Attorney General's Office and the governor's chief legal counsel for investigation.
—Jt Moodee Lockman, CBS News, 27 Apr. 2026
While such a practice might have been deemed acceptable 200 years ago, today it is considered unethical.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unethical
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The New Yorker, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
Some view the trade as unethical, but Americans already eat more than 130 million pigs every year, and pig, cow and even shark tissue have long been used in medical settings.
—Karen Weintraub, USA Today, 3 May 2026
Under Maryland's executive order, any state employee conducting unethical behavior must be reported to the Attorney General's Office and the governor's chief legal counsel for investigation.
—Jt Moodee Lockman, CBS News, 27 Apr. 2026
While such a practice might have been deemed acceptable 200 years ago, today it is considered unethical.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unethical
Cite this Entry
“Unethical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unethical. Accessed 6 May. 2026.
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