unduly

[ uhn-doo-lee, -dyoo- ]

adverb

1. excessively:

   unduly worried.

2. in an inappropriate, unjustifiable, or improper manner:

   unduly critical.

unduly

/ ʌnˈdjuːlɪ /

adverb

1. immoderately; excessively
2. in contradiction of moral or legal standards

Word History and Origins

Origin of unduly¹

First recorded in 1350–1400, unduly is from the Middle English word undewely. See undue, -ly

Example Sentences

Without being unduly macabre, the sudden death of Justice Antonin Scalia in 2016 demonstrates that anything can happen, and it doesn’t take much change to tip the balance on a nine-member court.

From Washington Post

This means not unduly punishing students with expulsion or criminal charges – things that could escalate the crisis or any grievance with the institution.

From No Straight News

The world is full of worthy, artistic movies that unduly punish us, but The Man Who Sold His Skin—which has been nominated for an Oscar in the Best International Feature category—isn’t one of them.

From Time

They are being cautious about unduly leaping in or being too proactive.

From Time

The current tax code, which unduly favors investment in capital, should also be rebalanced to encourage investment in workers and training.

From Singularity Hub 

At first, my co-director, Negin Farsad, and I thought Stewart was being unduly modest.

From The Daily Beast

Opponents jeered that his son was being unduly favored, an accusation Sarkozy denied.

From The Daily Beast

Americans have been unduly obsessed with the American-born cleric ever since he was linked to the Fort Hood rampage.

From The Daily Beast

This data is then tracked using a 10-day moving average, to assure that sudden changes in changes do not unduly skew results.

From The Daily Beast

For every new parent, the decision about whether to vaccinate his or her child has been unduly stressful.

From The Daily Beast

To unduly increase rates would diminish traffic and induce competition by road and sea.

From Project Gutenberg

Adverse critics contended that he unduly protected the Filipino to the prejudice of the white manʼs interest.

From Project Gutenberg

The baggage is then taken to the Custom-house in a steam-launch for examination, which is not unduly rigid.

From Project Gutenberg

Moreover the old Oriental task-masters possessed an asset which we have lost—a supreme scorn for being unduly hurried.

From Project Gutenberg

It is desirable that the sheer should be ample, and the form not unduly fined away within the midship half length.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• disproportionately
• extremely
• immensely
• improperly
• inordinately
• overly
• too
• unfairly
• unjustifiably
• unjustly
• unnecessarily
• unreasonably