unfounded

American  

[uhn-foun-did] / ʌnˈfaʊn dɪd /

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.

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unfounded British  

/ ʌnˈfaʊndɪd /

adjective

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

2. not yet founded or established

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Other Word Forms

• unfoundedly adverb
• unfoundedness noun

Etymology

Origin of unfounded

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

Example Sentences

Fears that highly educated women wouldn’t find men worthy of them were unfounded.

From The Wall Street Journal

When constituents questioned his legislation, she recalled, Wiener fired back within two hours, with “14 examples of why their concern is unfounded.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Since those comments, the Italian had been linked with Manchester City - speculation he labelled "100 per cent" unfounded - and had his relationship with the hierarchy continually to be questioned.

From BBC

Mittal, founder of the Oakland Institute, a human rights and development focused think tank in California, described Magnum's approach as a "public smear campaign" and said the allegations were unfounded.

From BBC

While both said the meeting was productive, Owens has continued to push unfounded theories about Kirk’s killing since then, which Erika Kirk has asked her to stop.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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