unwholesome
Americanadjective
-
not wholesome; unhealthful; deleterious to health or physical or moral well-being.
unwholesome food; unwholesome activities.
- Synonyms:
- pernicious, noxious, insalubrious
-
not sound in health; unhealthy, especially in appearance; suggestive of disease.
an unwholesome pallor.
adjective
-
detrimental to physical or mental health
an unwholesome climate
-
morally harmful or depraved
unwholesome practices
-
indicative of illness, esp in appearance
-
(esp of food) of inferior quality
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of unwholesome
Middle English word dating back to 1150–1200; see origin at un- 1, wholesome
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.
One councilman, Howard Springsteen, said casinos bring “an unwholesome community.”
From Seattle Times • Dec. 27, 2023
"A side that makes the movie feel creepy and subtly unwholesome."
From Salon • Jul. 21, 2023
“Don’t let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”
From Washington Post • Sep. 22, 2022
As Ghilarducci asserts, that’s a distinctly unwholesome development, especially for younger people who may just now be entering their prime earning years.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 26, 2022
“Show me these unwholesome treats he hides in his bed, Nanny Pratt,” she said grandly.
From "Secrets at Sea" by Richard Peck
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.
