unwholesome

[uhn-hohl-suhm]

See more synonyms for unwholesome on Thesaurus.com

adjective

not wholesome; unhealthful; deleterious to health or physical or moral well-being: unwholesome food; unwholesome activities.
not sound in health; unhealthy, especially in appearance; suggestive of disease: an unwholesome pallor.

Origin of unwholesome

Middle English word dating back to 1150–1200; see origin at un-¹, wholesome

Related formsun·whole·some·ly, adverbun·whole·some·ness, noun

Synonyms

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1. insalubrious, noxious, pernicious.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for unwholesome

Contemporary Examples

In an interview this week, Egeland strongly defended the propriety of delivering aid to unwholesome parts of northern Syria.
Why Humanitarians Talk to ISIS
Joshua Hersh
October 24, 2014
Conservatives have spent decades fulminating against a gay conspiracy to promote their unwholesome “agenda” in public schools.
Hannity's Gay Target
Michelle Goldberg
October 8, 2009

Historical Examples

The common but indecent practice of introducing chewed victuals into their mouth, is equally disgusting and unwholesome.
The Cook and Housekeeper's Complete and Universal Dictionary; Including a System of Modern Cookery, in all Its Various Branches,
Mary Eaton
The smell of this mixture is not unwholesome, and may be applied to the finest damask bed without any fear of soiling it.
The Cook and Housekeeper's Complete and Universal Dictionary; Including a System of Modern Cookery, in all Its Various Branches,
Mary Eaton
Where the flour is corrupted, the use of it in every other article of food, will of course be as unwholesome as in that of bread.
The Cook and Housekeeper's Complete and Universal Dictionary; Including a System of Modern Cookery, in all Its Various Branches,
Mary Eaton
As we must eat every day, there is opportunity enough for all things in turn, without attempting any unwholesome composition.
The Cook and Housekeeper's Complete and Universal Dictionary; Including a System of Modern Cookery, in all Its Various Branches,
Mary Eaton
But the theory of your religion is not more unscriptural than its application is unwholesome.
The Christian
Hall Caine

British Dictionary definitions for unwholesome

unwholesome

adjective

detrimental to physical or mental healthan unwholesome climate
morally harmful or depravedunwholesome practices
indicative of illness, esp in appearance
(esp of food) of inferior quality

Derived Formsunwholesomely, adverbunwholesomeness, noun

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

Word Origin and History for unwholesome

adj.

c.1200, from un- (1) "not" + wholesome. Cf. Flemish onheylsaem, German unheilsam, Old Norse uheilsamr.

unwholesome

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}unwholesome

Synonyms

Related Words

Examples from the Web for unwholesome

Contemporary Examples

In an interview this week, Egeland strongly defended the propriety of delivering aid to unwholesome parts of northern Syria.

Conservatives have spent decades fulminating against a gay conspiracy to promote their unwholesome “agenda” in public schools.

Historical Examples

The common but indecent practice of introducing chewed victuals into their mouth, is equally disgusting and unwholesome.

The smell of this mixture is not unwholesome, and may be applied to the finest damask bed without any fear of soiling it.

Where the flour is corrupted, the use of it in every other article of food, will of course be as unwholesome as in that of bread.

As we must eat every day, there is opportunity enough for all things in turn, without attempting any unwholesome composition.

But the theory of your religion is not more unscriptural than its application is unwholesome.

unwholesome

Word Origin and History for unwholesome

adj.

Origin of unwholesome