unduly
Americanadverb
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excessively.
unduly worried.
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in an inappropriate, unjustifiable, or improper manner.
unduly critical.
adverb
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immoderately; excessively
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in contradiction of moral or legal standards
Etymology
Origin of unduly
First recorded in 1350–1400, unduly is from the Middle English word undewely. See undue, -ly
Explanation
If something is done unduly, it's done out of proportion with what's reasonable or right. If you're unduly treated, you're not treated in the way you deserve to be. Duly comes from the late 14th century duweliche meaning "rightly, properly." The prefix un-, meaning "not" of course reverses that meaning so with unduly we get "not rightly or properly." You might become unduly angry with a toddler for tracking mud into the house. Unduly can also mean "excessively." Worrying unduly about the future can be paralyzing. Sometimes it's good to take the days as they come.
Vocabulary lists containing unduly
"Letter from Birmingham Jail" by Martin Luther King, Jr. (1963)
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Hatchet
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Excerpt from "Letter from Birmingham Jail"
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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.
“The First Emancipation” highlights Brissot, demonstrating that his revolutionary contribution has been unduly overlooked because, unlike other revolutionary figures such as Georges Danton and Maximilien Robespierre, he was not a striking personality.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 27, 2026
"It seems unduly lenient to me and has wider public interest beyond just the case itself in the message that it sends," she said.
From BBC • May 22, 2026
At least in the technology sector—which the Berkshire founder has been famously averse to backing—there do appear to be stocks that have been unduly punished by AI and energy worries.
From Barron's • Apr. 1, 2026
“Secure ballot envelope identifiers provide a reliable, auditable mechanism to enforce Federal law without unduly burdening or infringing on the rights of eligible voters,” the order reads.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 31, 2026
I have myself devised many staff plans over the years, and I do not believe I am being unduly boastful if I say that very few ever needed amendment.
From "The Remains of the Day" by Kazuo Ishiguro
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.
