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inadvisable

American  
[in-uhd-vahy-zuh-buhl] / ˌɪn ədˈvaɪ zə bəl /

adjective

  1. not advisable; inexpedient; unwise.

    Synonyms:
    risky, impolitic, imprudent
    Antonyms:
    expedient, prudent, advisable

inadvisable British  
/ ˌɪnədˈvaɪzəbəl /

adjective

  1. not advisable; not recommended

  2. unwise; imprudent

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of inadvisable

First recorded in 1865–70; in- 3 + advisable

Explanation

Something that's inadvisable is a pretty bad idea. It would be inadvisable to drive around town with your friend riding on the hood of your car. Things that are unwise or foolish can be described as inadvisable. It's inadvisable to dress your cat in doll clothes, or to jump off the roof of your shed into a pile of leaves. In both cases, the possibility of getting hurt outweighs the entertainment value. If you wouldn't advise a friend to do something, it's inadvisable.

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Vocabulary lists containing inadvisable

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.

"A comprehensive ceasefire is of utmost urgency, resuming hostilities is even more inadvisable and maintaining negotiations is particularly important," he said.

From Barron's • May 20, 2026

But the idea that any hot dog consumption is inadvisable isn’t supported by strong evidence.

From Slate • Aug. 2, 2025

For any elite mountaineer, it would be a daunting, perilous and most likely inadvisable undertaking.

From New York Times • Mar. 29, 2024

Usually, free privacy and cybersecurity tools are inadvisable, but Bitwarden is the exception.

From Salon • Mar. 22, 2024

Do the comets and asteroids think it inadvisable to impact an inhabited planet?

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan

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