Skip to main content
immoral

immoral

144 4.6
Not following what most people think is right or wrong
  • adjective
  • /ɪˈmɔrəl/
translation icon : inmoral
  • Many people believe that cheating on a partner is immoral and wrong.
  • immoral behavior
  • immoral acts
  • immoral and illegal

But if it is, it seems pretty immoral by our own standards.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • To dare to be immoral is what you have to do.

  • What about when acting in immoral ways brings harm to others?

  • But if it is, it seems pretty immoral by our own standards.

  • It's immoral to be in love?

  • It's immoral, and it's illegal.

  • Wouldn't we consider it immoral not to be using this new technology?

  • The fact is I've spent my life surrounded by immoral people.

  • But if a king is immoral, then he should hide in obscurity.

    Fiction book (2000)
  • This is an explicit and immoral injustice.

  • It is an immoral order, and by articles ot war I am not bound to obey it.

Synonyms

wrong
vsimmoral
1.0

Not morally right or acceptable

focuses on failing accepted moral standards not legal breach
evil
vsimmoral
1.2

Being very bad and morally wrong, often causing harm to others

focuses on failing accepted moral standards rather than harm caused
unethical
vsimmoral
102 4.8

Not right according to moral or professional rules most people accept

is about failing general moral standards rather than only professional rules
sinful
vsimmoral
56 3.6

Wrong according to religious or moral rules

is defined by failing accepted moral standards not only religious law
degenerate
vsimmoral
  • Offensive
35 8.0

Not following normal moral rules and behaving badly

covers any failure to meet accepted morals not only decline in character
unsavory
vsimmoral
  • US
29 7.2

Something people think is morally wrong or dishonest

is about failing accepted morals rather than merely causing distaste
ungodly
vsimmoral
21 7.2

Morally wrong because it goes against religious rules

is secularly about failing accepted moral standards without religious focus
impure
vsimmoral
  • NSFW
20 6.0

Not morally clean because it is corrupt or obscene

covers failing accepted moral standards rather than impurity or obscenity
unworthy
vsimmoral
  • Offensive
20 5.4

Deserves strong blame or dislike

labels moral failure but without stressing blame or contempt
morally bankrupt
vsimmoral
7 7.4

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

describes failing moral standards without implying total absence of principles
unrighteous
vsimmoral
  • Formal
5 7.6

Acting in a way that is unfair or morally wrong

covers any failure to meet accepted moral standards
unwholesome
vsimmoral
4 6.3

Harmful to health or to how someone behaves

focuses on failing accepted moral standards rather than physical harm
iniquitous
vsimmoral
  • Formal
2 9.8

Very unfair and wrong in a way that harms people

is the general term for failing moral standards not necessarily extreme
unmoral
vsimmoral
  • Archaic
9.1

Wrong or bad because it goes against accepted ideas of right and wrong

also covers ethical failure beyond mere nonconformity
base
vsimmoral
  • Offensive
7.9

Showing low moral quality, not honest or noble

describes moral failure broadly rather than specific low or dishonorable nature

Antonyms

3.7

Concerned with ideas of right and wrong in people's actions

280 4.1

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

How Moral

upright
15 4.0
ethical
280 4.1
moral
3.7
questionable
176 3.9
unethical
102 4.8
immoral
144 4.6
wicked
149 4.6

Surface Forms

immoral positive
immoraler comparative
immoralest superlative

Morphology

immoral = moral (transparent) = im + moral

The negative prefix 'im-' is productively added to 'moral' to mean 'not moral', which is directly inferable by learners.

Etymology

Immoral begins with the prefix im- meaning 'not' and the part moral, which comes from a word for people's customs and their sense of 'right' and 'wrong'. So immoral means 'not' following those accepted rules of right behaviour.