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.
“There are probably an infinite number of ways. I think the right question is: What is the right and fairest way to share the cost without unduly burdening anyone?”
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 9, 2026
But it’s hardly unusual for government regulations to prompt industries to modernize, or for manufacturers to claim that meeting the rules is impossible or unduly expensive.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 8, 2026
So changes in the composition of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors shouldn’t unduly influence investment decisions.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 31, 2026
In 1779 Edward Gibbon was compelled to respond to critics who alleged that his “Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire” was unduly irreverent.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026
But since there was no reason to rule out the participation of specific enzymes, I saw no need to be unduly disturbed.
From "Double Helix" by James D. Watson
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.
