unwholesome
Americanadjective
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not wholesome; unhealthful; deleterious to health or physical or moral well-being.
unwholesome food; unwholesome activities.
- Synonyms:
- pernicious, noxious, insalubrious
-
not sound in health; unhealthy, especially in appearance; suggestive of disease.
an unwholesome pallor.
adjective
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detrimental to physical or mental health
an unwholesome climate
-
morally harmful or depraved
unwholesome practices
-
indicative of illness, esp in appearance
-
(esp of food) of inferior quality
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of unwholesome
Middle English word dating back to 1150–1200; see origin at un- 1, wholesome
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.
From the minds behind of the aptly named Unwholesome Foods comes the TurDunkin’ “a turkey brined in Dunkin’ Donuts coolattas, stuffed with munchkins and served with coffee gravy and mashed hash browns.”
From Salon • Nov. 13, 2019
Unwholesome sandflats waited to suck his treading soles, breathing upward sewage breath.
From Time Magazine Archive
They are open at the side and the water goes in: Unwholesome boots, says Tommy Linn.
From Popular Rhymes and Nursery Tales A Sequel to the Nursery Rhymes of England by Halliwell-Phillipps, J. O. (James Orchard)
Unwholesome diet, the drastic operation of purgatives, external injuries, the suppression of accustomed secretions and discharges, all are exciting causes of dropsy.
From The Dog by Youatt, William
The Unwholesome in Boxing Matches.—One caution should be given in writing about boxing contests,—the need of presenting the wholesome rather than the unwholesome side.
From News Writing The Gathering , Handling and Writing of News Stories by Spencer, M. Lyle (Matthew Lyle)
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.
