unsubstantiated
Americanadjective
-
not substantiated; unproved or unverified.
unsubstantiated allegations.
-
being without form or substance.
adjective
Etymology
Origin of unsubstantiated
First recorded in 1765–75; un- 1 + substantiate + -ed 2
Vocabulary lists containing unsubstantiated
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.
The piece argues that Pratt showed sufficient composure and charm while displaying deference to moderators and occasionally yielding speaking time to Bass, though the article notes he occasionally lapsed into mockery and made unsubstantiated characterizations.
From Los Angeles Times • May 6, 2026
These claims were unsubstantiated as post-election polling shows that transgender policies are were often ranked low in priorities for surveyed voters.
From Salon • Apr. 5, 2026
Iran-aligned group Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya - The Islamic Movement of the People of the Right Hand - made an unsubstantiated claim of responsibility for the attack on its Telegram channel.
From BBC • Mar. 24, 2026
IonQ told Barron’s, which was the first to report on the allegations, that the firm had made “false, misleading, and unsubstantiated claims.”
From Barron's • Feb. 25, 2026
The critical issue is the quality of the purported evidence, rigorously and skeptically scrutinized—not what sounds plausible, not the unsubstantiated testimony of one or two self-professed eyewitnesses.
From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan
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.
