Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
ethically challenged

ethically challenged

1 8.5
A person who does not have strong moral principles and is likely to do dishonest or unfair things
  • adjective
  • /ˈɛθɪkli ˈʧælɪndʒd/
  • Offensive
translation icon : [OFENSIVO] poco ético
  • The man is morally and ethically challenged.

Examples

  • Not only are you ethically challenged, you're the poster child for irresponsible parenting.

    Blog text (13)

  • Regardless of party affiliation, McKeon is ethically challenged.

    Blog text (1)

  • We're there because it's our obligation as citizens to resist what your ethically challenged boss is doing.

    Blog text (26)

  • Some interesting factoids: The ethically challenged Thomas has not asked a single question from the bench in the past 6 years!

    Blog text (16)

  • Now our ethically challenged governor is refusing to cooperate even though the federal government would pay millions of dollars to Georgia for the expansion of Medicaid.

    Blog text (5)

  • The company hired an ethically challenged consultant who used questionable tactics to win contracts.

  • Many voters are concerned about the ethically challenged behavior of their local politicians.

  • The documentary exposed the ethically challenged practices within the organization.

Synonyms

unethical
vsethically challenged
102 4.8

Not right according to moral or professional rules most people accept

is broader meaning a tendency toward questionable behaviour rather than only rule breaking
unprincipled
vsethically challenged
  • Offensive
8 6.6

Willing to do wrong to get what you want

is milder meaning occasional weakness in principles and questionable acts
morally bankrupt
vsethically challenged
7 7.4

A person, group, or action that does not care about right and wrong

is less extreme, indicating weak principles rather than total absence
conscienceless
vsethically challenged
1 9.5

Not feeling guilty about doing bad or dishonest things

is less absolute, implying flawed principles rather than total lack of conscience
unvirtuous
vsethically challenged
1 8.2

Not behaving in a morally good way

is about weak principles and questionable acts rather than clear lack of virtue
honorless
vsethically challenged
  • US
7.0

An action that is not honest or fair and not respected by others

focuses on lost reputation rather than general weakness in moral principles

Antonyms

ethical
280 4.1

Following rules about what is right and wrong in people's actions

How Ethical

virtuous
35 4.3
ethical
280 4.1
ethically challenged
  • Offensive
1 8.5
immoral
144 4.6

Surface Forms

ethically challenged positive

Morphology

ethically + challenged

A B1 learner who knows 'ethically' (relating to ethics) and 'challenged' (having difficulties) can plausibly infer 'ethically challenged' as 'having problems with ethics' or 'lacking strong moral principles.' However, the phrase is somewhat euphemistic and idiomatic in usage (using 'challenged' to mean deficient), so its precise pragmatic tone and scope are not fully predictable from the parts alone.

Etymology

Ethically challenged puts ethically and challenged together to make a picture of someone who has trouble with 'right and wrong'. That's why it means a person who is 'not honest' or likely to act against normal moral rules.