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un-American

un-American

26 7.5
Against the values or interests of the United States
  • adjective
  • /ˌʌnəˈmɛrɪkən/
  • US
translation icon : antiestadounidense
  • He looked in my eyes and said, "This bill is un-American."
  • simply un-American
  • un-American activities

It strikes me as such an UN American way to think.

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Examples

  • The government's decision to limit free speech is considered un-American by many citizens.

  • Well, what they did to you is un-American.

  • What I'm worried about is how UN American this whole initiative is.

  • But I feel that this is un-American.

  • I think they are un-American.

  • Then it's un-American, isn't it?

  • I am fighting against un-American activities such as lynchings and denial of the vote.

    Academic text (1997)
  • Many will consider this an extremist view, and some will even declare it un-American.

    Academic text (2006)
  • The bill is un-American.

  • That's very un-American.

Synonyms

unpatriotic
vsun-American
23 6.4

Not showing love or support for your country

is applied to behaviour judged contrary to that country's values or interests
anti-American
vsun-American
  • Offensive
6.2

Disliking the United States or its policies

is judged as going against that country's characteristics, values, or interests
antinational
vsun-American
8.4

Opposed to their own country's interests or unity

is used specifically for things seen as contrary to the United States
antipatriotic
vsun-American
8.1

Not loyal to one's own country

is used for acts seen as against that country's values rather than loyalty

Antonyms

1.0

Relating to the United States, its people and culture

How American

patriotic
107 3.3
American
1.0
un-American
  • US
26 7.5
anti-American
  • Offensive
6.2

Surface Forms

un-American positive

Morphology

un-American = American (transparent) = un + American

Clearly formed by the productive negative prefix 'un-' attached to the adjective 'American', yielding a straightforward opposite meaning.

Etymology

Un-American is built from un- meaning 'not' (as in unhappy) and American meaning 'of the United States'. So to call something un-American is to say it is 'not like' American values or ways, often meaning it goes against what people see as the country's character.