Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Showing results for unhealthy. Search instead for unhealthy toxins.
Synonyms

unhealthy

American  
[uhn-hel-thee] / ʌnˈhɛl θi /

adjective

unhealthier, unhealthiest

  1. not in a state of good or normal health; in an unsound, weak, or morbid condition.

    Synonyms:
    sickly

  2. symptomatic of or resulting from bad health.

    an unhealthy pallor.

  3. not conducive to good health; unhealthful.

    Night air was formerly considered unhealthy.
    Synonyms:
    deleterious, unhygienic

  4. morally bad, harmful, or contaminating.

    unhealthy examples for the young.

  5. dangerous; risky.

    Asking questions in this neighborhood can be unhealthy.
unhealthy British  
/ ʌnˈhɛlθɪ /

adjective

  1. characterized by ill-health; sick; unwell

  2. characteristic of, conducive to, or resulting from ill-health

    an unhealthy complexion

    an unhealthy atmosphere

  3. morbid or unwholesome

  4. informal dangerous; risky

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • unhealthily adverb
  • unhealthiness noun

Etymology

Origin of unhealthy

First recorded in 1585–95; un- 1 + healthy

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.

When these cells were removed in mice, inflammation dropped sharply and liver damage was reversed, even though the animals continued eating an unhealthy diet.

From Science Daily • Apr. 16, 2026

England rugby star Ellie Kildunne says she slipped into disordered eating and unhealthy weight loss during the coronavirus lockdown as her competitive instincts and isolation from her team left her feeling vulnerable.

From BBC • Apr. 15, 2026

They reached 38C in the capital Abuja, while Sokoto in the northwest hit 44C, with NiMet describing the conditions as "unhealthy".

From Barron's • Apr. 8, 2026

Stage 2, very unhealthy — keep the kids inside.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 26, 2026

They knew I had an unhealthy obsession with movies and television shows, and they were partially to blame.

From "Americanized" by Sara Saedi

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.