unwholesome

[ uhn-hohl-suhm ]

adjective

1. not wholesome; unhealthful; deleterious to health or physical or moral well-being:

   unwholesome food; unwholesome activities.

   Synonyms: pernicious, noxious, insalubrious

2. not sound in health; unhealthy, especially in appearance; suggestive of disease:

   an unwholesome pallor.

unwholesome

/ ʌnˈhəʊlsəm /

adjective

1. detrimental to physical or mental health

   an unwholesome climate

2. morally harmful or depraved

   unwholesome practices

3. indicative of illness, esp in appearance
4. (esp of food) of inferior quality

Derived Forms

• unˈwholesomeness, noun
• unˈwholesomely, adverb

Other Words From

• un·wholesome·ly adverb
• un·wholesome·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of unwholesome¹

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

Example Sentences

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

From The Daily Beast

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

From The Daily Beast

The strong hand relaxed, another moment and the man, slipping round the corner like an unwholesome spirit, was gone.

From Project Gutenberg

Yesterday the ground appeared, and a hard rain coming down at the same time washed off much of the unwholesome debris.

From Project Gutenberg

Piso says, that the flesh of the six banded is not eatable; and Nieremberg affirms, that it is unwholesome and pernicious.

From Project Gutenberg

The woody hollow of Cowan's Bridge was foggy, unwholesome, damp.

From Project Gutenberg

Clothing, also, especially in boys the breeches, may give rise during childhood to unwholesome stimulation.

From Project Gutenberg