iniquitous
Americanadjective
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of iniquitous
First recorded in 1720–30; iniquit(y) + -ous
Explanation
Something that is iniquitous is extremely immoral or wicked, such as an iniquitous political regime that assassinates its enemies. Use the adjective iniquitous to describe something that is truly bad, morally wrong, extremely wicked, or completely unfair. It’s a strong word — don't use it lightly. If you go see a movie that’s boring and too long, for example, it’s just a bad movie. But a movie that encourages people to take violent action against a minority group? That's iniquitous because the movie's message is grossly immoral.
Vocabulary lists containing iniquitous
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
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Pride and Prejudice
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And Then There Were None
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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.
He labelled the sanctions "cynical and iniquitous" and said they were intended to "humiliate" Niger's security forces and make the country "ungovernable".
From BBC • Aug. 3, 2023
The food court was a part of this iniquitous setup.
From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 14, 2022
Damond’s father, John Ruszcyzk, and her fiance, Don Damond, issued a joint statement on behalf of both families, saying they applauded the decision to charge Noor “as one step toward justice for this iniquitous act.”
From Washington Times • Mar. 20, 2018
In O’Neill’s disturbing, elegant novel, his first since “Netherland,” a lost and tormented New York lawyer recognizes more darkness within himself than in the iniquitous place he works, Dubai.
From New York Times • Dec. 2, 2014
Poverty and hard work had inflicted iniquitous damage on both.
From "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller
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.
