uncharitable
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of uncharitable
late Middle English word dating back to 1425–75; see origin at un- 1, charitable
Explanation
If you do something that's selfish or unsympathetic, it's uncharitable. It would be uncharitable to throw away your unopened bag of chips when your friend just mentioned how hungry she is. Uncharitable behavior includes things like gossiping meanly about others, refusing to offer someone a ride when you're heading in the same direction, or hoarding your vast amounts of wealth rather than donating some of it to charity. In fact, the noun charity is at the heart of this adjective — as well as "an organization that provides help," it means "voluntarily giving help" and "kindness." When you don't show charity, you're uncharitable.
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.
Critics took issue with the book’s uncharitable caricatures of people assumed to be in the author’s life.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 27, 2026
Not all disabilities are visible, and it’s not your job to educate people, especially people who can’t discuss the matter without being uncharitable.
From Slate ● Mar. 20, 2024
It's uncharitable to bring it up again, but Dua Lipa's first ever Brits performance back in 2018 was so stilted that it spawned the "go girl, give us nothing" meme.
From BBC ● Mar. 3, 2024
It’s funny, if glib and uncharitable, in the way that biting satire often is.
From New York Times ● May 17, 2023
Aru thought it would be uncharitable to say DUH, so she just nodded.
From "Aru Shah and the End of Time" by Roshani Chokshi
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
