unhealthy
Americanadjective
-
not in a state of good or normal health; in an unsound, weak, or morbid condition.
- Synonyms:
- sickly
-
symptomatic of or resulting from bad health.
an unhealthy pallor.
-
not conducive to good health; unhealthful.
Night air was formerly considered unhealthy.
- Synonyms:
- deleterious, unhygienic
-
morally bad, harmful, or contaminating.
unhealthy examples for the young.
-
dangerous; risky.
Asking questions in this neighborhood can be unhealthy.
adjective
-
characterized by ill-health; sick; unwell
-
characteristic of, conducive to, or resulting from ill-health
an unhealthy complexion
an unhealthy atmosphere
-
morbid or unwholesome
-
informal dangerous; risky
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of unhealthy
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“This one is very powerful,” she told me before the session, holding up a translucent stick that she said she uses to cut unhealthy attachments.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 9, 2026
There is no single reason why colon-cancer rates have been rising in people younger than 50, but it’s likely driven by increasingly unhealthy diets that lack fiber and over-index on ultraprocessed foods.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 4, 2026
PHW said it highlighted how unhealthy food environments may be driving people to a poorer diet and an increased risk of obesity.
From BBC • Jun. 3, 2026
These unhealthy treats have contributed to modifying a diet usually made up of fruit, vegetables and seeds.
From Barron's • May 22, 2026
“That food is unhealthy for you,” she had said to him, and he smiled, rubbing his head.
From "A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier" by Ishmael Beah
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
