unwarranted
Britishadjective
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lacking justification or authorization
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another word for unwarrantable
Explanation
When something is unwarranted it's not called-for under the given circumstances. For example, debating the merits of someone's talent is one thing, but calling them stupid is unwarranted. I thought the applause was unwarranted. After all, all the guy did was stand there and point for two hours. And when that lady started screaming? That was unwarranted, too: all I did was give her a flat. It was an accident! Think of it this way: when the police want to search your home, they have to get a "warrant" — a document that allows them to enter. To go into your home without a warrant would be unwarranted. A warrant is a kind of justification; without that justification, something could be called unwarranted.
Vocabulary lists containing unwarranted
The Devil's Arithmetic
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100 SAT Words Beginning with "U"
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Dwight D. Eisenhower, "The Military-Industrial Complex" (1961)
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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.
In particular, Lee argues that concerns about heavy capex investment are unwarranted as Microsoft already has cloud-computing contracts covering the majority of the useful life of the hardware it is buying.
From Barron's • Apr. 1, 2026
Many scholars question the fairness of vicarious liability in criminal cases, viewing it as an unwarranted exception to the general rule that criminal responsibility must be personal.
From Slate • Mar. 5, 2026
The number of permanent residents has increased, bringing what some say is "new life" but others argue the policy is not enough to save rural communities or think it an unwarranted attack on tourism.
From BBC • Feb. 25, 2026
The smattering of small earthquakes in Southern California generated significant, not altogether unwarranted, attention last year.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 22, 2025
The fuss feels unwarranted as they step into a stark, sunken dining room.
From "The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri
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.
