unsubstantiated

American  

[uhn-suhb-stan-shee-ey-tid] / ˌʌn səbˈstæn ʃiˌeɪ tɪd /

adjective

1. not substantiated; unproved or unverified.

   unsubstantiated allegations.

2. being without form or substance.

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unsubstantiated British  

/ ˌʌnsəbˈstænʃɪˌeɪtɪd /

adjective

1. not established as valid or genuine

   unsubstantiated allegations

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Etymology

Origin of unsubstantiated

First recorded in 1765–75; un- ¹ + substantiate + -ed ²

Example Sentences

The author argues that Bovino’s inflammatory rhetoric and theatrical enforcement style backfired, with his unsubstantiated claim that slain ICU nurse Alex Pretti wanted to “massacre law enforcement” particularly damaging public perception of immigration enforcement efforts.

From Los Angeles Times

The FTC’s claimed benefits “are illusory or, at least, unsubstantiated,” he wrote.

From The Wall Street Journal

The government’s justifications for the probe “are so thin and unsubstantiated that the Court can only conclude that they are pretextual,” he wrote.

From The Wall Street Journal

At the event he gave sweeping, unsubstantiated advice on autism, such as insisting that pregnant women should "tough it out" and avoid Tylenol over an unproven link to autism -- statements slammed by scientists.

From Barron's

A deep dive into public records found that most of the accusations against U.S. citizens for attacking immigration officers were unsubstantiated.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• debatable
• dubious
• unsupported