unconscionable

American  

[uhn-kon-shuh-nuh-buhl] / ʌnˈkɒn ʃə nə bəl /

adjective

1. not guided by conscience; unscrupulous.

2. not in accordance with what is just or reasonable.

   unconscionable behavior.

3. excessive; extortionate.

   an unconscionable profit.

   Synonyms:

   inordinate, unwarranted, immoderate, extreme

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unconscionable British  

/ ʌnˈkɒnʃənəbəl /

adjective

1. unscrupulous or unprincipled

   an unconscionable liar

2. immoderate or excessive

   unconscionable demands

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Other Word Forms

• unconscionability noun
• unconscionableness noun
• unconscionably adverb

Etymology

Origin of unconscionable

First recorded in 1555–65; un- ¹ + conscionable

Explanation

Something that is almost unimaginably unacceptable is unconscionable. Think of it as being something that no reasonable person would even think of doing or saying — something unbelievable, outrageous, and often horrible. The word unconscionable is related to the word conscience. Add the un-, and you can see that it refers to something done without applying good moral judgment. The word first appeared in the mid-16th century — presumably everyone up until that time had high scruples and never did or said anything beyond the boundaries of conscience. Sadly, the antonym, conscionable, is rarely used, and, in fact, has been obsolete since the 18th century, though unconscionable remains in frequent use.

Example Sentences

Award-winning Indian novelist Arundhati Roy, who had been due to present a restored version of a 1989 film she wrote, pulled out of the event, branding Wender's words "unconscionable" and "jaw-dropping".

From Barron's • Feb. 21, 2026

However, she said that the "unconscionable" statements by Wenders and other jury members had led her to reconsider, "with deep regret".

From Barron's • Feb. 13, 2026

Many decades and unconscionable acts have transpired since that speculative conversation.

From Salon • Oct. 29, 2025

“Officials have responded with unconscionable ineptitude,” said Kara Vallow, who said she believed the document “goes out of its way to avoid accountability.”

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 30, 2025

The Corcorans were thoughtless but this was unconscionable; those monsters, I thought, those imbeciles, they just went off and left it here all by itself.

From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt

Related Words

• barbarous
• excessive
• outrageous
• preposterous
• uncivilized
• unethical
• unfair
• unjust
• unreasonable
• wanton