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ill-advised

ill-advised

21 5.4
Not a good idea and likely to cause problems
  • adjective
  • /ˌɪl-ədˈvaɪzd/
translation icon : imprudente
  • In Montana's already marginal environment, the snow-eating chinook presented yet another challenge to the well-intentioned but ill-advised pioneer homesteader.
  • prove ill-advised

That would be your back, and it's ill advised mostly for people who snore.

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Examples

  • A trial might be ill-advised.

  • It was ill-advised and not terribly professional.

  • An attack right now might be most ill-advised... sir.

  • I must tell you that I feel you are ill-advised in the matter.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • But on several levels, in my opinion, this was an ill-advised and somewhat misleading article.

    Blog text (4)
  • Point three: If you should be so ill-advised as to write her any more letters, I can assure you there will be no reply.

  • Humphrey compounded the situation with several ill-advised statements and actions soon after his arrival.

    Academic text (1992)
  • Washington's ill-advised invasion of Iraq has benefited Iran by empowering local Shiite parties sympathetic to Tehran.

    Academic text (2007)
  • But throughout this period, Attorney General Francis Biddle strongly opposed internment as "ill-advised, unnecessary, and unnecessarily cruel." (41)

    Academic text (2018)
  • Changing the definition of marriage to achieve benefit goals is ill-advised and harmful to society.

Synonyms

unwise
vsill-advised
40 3.5

A bad idea that shows a person does not think carefully

highlights that the act also shows weak judgment and risk
ill-conceived
vsill-advised
9 6.1

Poorly planned and likely to fail

applies more broadly to acts likely to bring negative outcomes
imprudent
vsill-advised
9 7.6

Acting without care or good sense

is more about actions likely to cause negative consequences
ill-considered
vsill-advised
4 6.8

Not carefully planned or thought about before doing it

focuses more on the likely bad results of those choices
inadvisable
vsill-advised
3 5.5

Not a good idea because it may cause problems

adds that the action also shows poor judgment and risk
misbegotten
vsill-advised
3 8.5

Badly planned and made in a foolish way

is less about foolish origin and more about harmful consequences
ill-chosen
vsill-advised
1 6.3

Not right for the situation and likely to seem awkward

concerns poor judgment leading to negative results rather than mere awkwardness
ill-judged
vsill-advised
1 6.3

An action or decision made without careful thought that causes problems

emphasizes that such decisions will probably lead to harm or loss
unadvisable
vsill-advised
1 6.3

Not a good idea because it may cause harm or trouble

stresses that the act lacks good judgment and may cause harm

Antonyms

94 6.2

Being careful and thinking ahead when you make decisions

8 4.8

A careful sensible decision made after thinking and getting advice

How Wise

wise
758 2.1
sensible
201 2.7
ill-advised
21 5.4
rash
3 4.3

Surface Forms

ill-advised positive

Morphology

ill-advised = advised (transparent) = ill + advise + ed

Formed by adding the negative/badly prefix 'ill-' to the past-participial adjective 'advised' (advise + -ed); meaning 'badly advised' is directly predictable from its parts.

Etymology

Ill-advised comes from the parts ill- meaning 'bad' and advised meaning 'given advice', so it literally suggests someone had 'bad advice'. That's why we call a choice ill-advised when it shows poor judgment and may lead to trouble.