unfounded

[uhn-foun-did]

adjective

1. without foundation; not based on fact, realistic considerations, or the like.

   unfounded suspicions.

   Synonyms: unjustified, false, idle, groundless, unsubstantiated

2. not established; not founded.

   the prophet of a religion as yet unfounded.

unfounded

/ ʌnˈfaʊndɪd /

adjective

1. (of ideas, allegations, etc) baseless; groundless

2. not yet founded or established

Other Word Forms

• unfoundedly adverb
• unfoundedness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of unfounded¹

First recorded in 1640–50; un- ¹ + found ¹ + -ed ²

Example Sentences

Barkley said “every case is investigated” and found to be either “substantiated, unsubstantiated or unfounded.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Charges reportedly deemed weak and unfounded by career prosecutors have been brought forward anyway against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Atty.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

India rejected the "baseless and unfounded" allegations made by an "obviously delirious Pakistani leadership".

Read more on Barron's

"We request the warm support from the fans and respectfully urge you to avoid engaging in unfounded speculation regarding the members," the statement said.

Read more on BBC

After all, he has seemed to take special pleasure in spreading ugly, unfounded rumors about people, such as defaming Haitian immigrants by claiming they eat people’s pets.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• baseless 
• deceptive 
• fabricated 
• false 
• gratuitous 
• groundless 
• illogical 
• misleading 
• spurious 
• unjustified 
• unproven 
• unsubstantiated 
• untrue 
• untruthful 
• unwarranted