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Synonyms

ill-founded

American  
[il-foun-did] / ˈɪlˈfaʊn dɪd /

adjective

  1. based on weak evidence, illogical reasoning, or the like.

    an ill-founded theory.


ill-founded British  

adjective

  1. not founded on true or reliable premises; unsubstantiated

    an ill-founded rumour

"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

Etymology

Origin of ill-founded

First recorded in 1665–75

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.

She did not make any of these dangerous and ill-founded accusations in her relatively short speech Monday night.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 16, 2024

The boycott was described as "disheartening and ill-founded" by McDonald's.

From BBC • Apr. 4, 2024

“The terminations in late 2020 were unrelated to the ill-founded concerns raised by the employees in 2019.”

From Washington Post • Oct. 6, 2022

That’s why it’s notable that even as the Belcher decision repudiated an ill-founded, punitive approach to teenage crime, Connecticut’s parole board adopted a humane alternative.

From New York Times • Apr. 20, 2022

However, given Einstein’s record of ill-founded opposition to gravitational collapse and the uncertainty principle, maybe this was an encouraging sign.

From "A Brief History of Time: And Other Essays" by Stephen Hawking