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.
In 2015, he was strongly criticised for publicising unsubstantiated claims of sex abuse by the Conservative politician Leon Brittan.
From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026
Italy's government says the country's largest steel works must be converted to electric after a court-ordered shutdown of polluting furnaces but, as Rome seeks a buyer, critics say its plan is woefully unsubstantiated.
From Barron's ● Sep. 17, 2026
Monroe’s personal legacy is like a charm bracelet hung with more unsubstantiated rumors than genuine facts, but one undeniable trait was her thirst to defy the world’s expectations.
From Salon ● Jul. 6, 2026
“He looks forward to vindicating himself in court, where such matters are decided — and not in the media — based on admissible, material evidence, not rank speculation and unsubstantiated allegations.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 3, 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.
