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unwholesome

unwholesome

4 6.3
Harmful to health or to how someone behaves
  • adjective
  • /ʌnˈhoʊlsəm/
translation icon : nocivo
  • Because of its unwholesome content, the school cannot allow the exhibition of Hamlet 2.

Examples

  • Indeed, trust is slight in that unwholesome company.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • Now, there is evidence that the child currently lives... in unclean and unwholesome conditions.

  • ''We feel it is our duty to bring this unwholesome situation to your attention.''

  • What an unwholesome opinion you must have of your colleagues to imagine that we...

  • The first issue was devoted to the topic of protecting consumers from unwholesome food and drugs.

    Academic text (1997)
  • Your daughter... appears to have formed a rather... unwholesome attachment to Juliet.

  • Henry, your daughter appears to have formed a rather unwholesome attachment to Juliet.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • So there's something a little corrupt in that, something unwholesome, and I share his discomfort in participating in it.

  • Miss Breckinridge... what you're doing here is downright unwholesome, underminin' all my good work.

  • The children were influenced by the unwholesome behavior of their peers.

Synonyms

harmful
vsunwholesome
161 2.6

Causing damage to people, animals or things

is about harm that can be physical or moral rather than only damage
immoral
vsunwholesome
144 4.6

Not following what most people think is right or wrong

also covers the possibility of causing physical harm, not only moral wrong
unhealthy
vsunwholesome
117 1.6

Not good for your health and likely to cause illness

also includes actions or things that damage moral standards
unethical
vsunwholesome
102 4.8

Not right according to moral or professional rules most people accept

embraces both breaches of morality and harms to physical wellbeing
unconscionable
vsunwholesome
35 8.9

Very wrong and unfair in a way people cannot accept

can also mean something that damages health or causes harm to people
undesirable
vsunwholesome
31 4.6

Not wanted because it is unpleasant, harmful, or causes problems

focuses more on causing physical or moral harm rather than mere dislike
unsavory
vsunwholesome
  • US
29 7.2

Something people think is morally wrong or dishonest

adds the idea of causing physical as well as moral harm
abominable
vsunwholesome
24 7.2

Very bad or morally wrong so people strongly dislike it

can refer to things that harm health as well as deeply offend morals
pernicious
vsunwholesome
  • Formal
23 8.2

Harmful in a slow and hidden way

covers both bodily harm and moral harm rather than only gradual damage
unhealthful
vsunwholesome
1 4.8

Harmful to your health and likely to make you sick

adds a moral harm sense as well as physical danger
insanitary
vsunwholesome
1 6.9

Dirty and likely to cause disease

is broader, covering moral danger as well as cleanliness risks
insalubrious
vsunwholesome
  • Formal
9.9

A place that makes people likely to get sick

extends this health danger idea to include moral harm too

Antonyms

71 3.1

Helps your body and mind stay healthy

How Wholesome

healthy
419 1.0
wholesome
71 3.1
nourishing
4 2.1
unwholesome
4 6.3
harmful
161 2.6
toxic
380 4.0

Surface Forms

unwholesome positive

Morphology

unwholesome = wholesome (transparent) = un + whole + some

The negative prefix 'un-' straightforwardly negates the adjective 'wholesome', so the overall meaning is directly derived.

Etymology

Unwholesome comes from the parts un- meaning 'not' and whole meaning 'healthy' or 'complete'. So unwholesome literally means 'not healthy', which is why we use it for food, air, or ideas that can harm the body or the mind and morals.