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.
Support for the plan generally came from industry and regulatory reform groups who said the vehicle standards that rest on the endangerment finding are costly and unduly burdensome.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 19, 2026
Barron’s has argued that many incumbent software providers have seen their stocks unduly harshly hit over the perceived AI threat and Wall Street analysts agree.
From Barron's • Mar. 9, 2026
There is an acceptance players use supposed injuries as a way of breaking up play, but it is felt extending the time limit could unduly penalise genuinely injured players.
From BBC • Feb. 23, 2026
Part of the struggle is convincing generalist LPs that early-stage life-sciences startups aren’t unduly risky, he said.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 12, 2026
So it was quite easy to imagine her the product of an unsatisfied mother who unduly stressed the desirability of professional careers that could save bright girls from marriages to dull men.
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.
