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iniquitous

iniquitous

2 9.8
Very unfair and wrong in a way that harms people
  • adjective
  • /ɪˈnɪkwɪtəs/
  • Formal
translation icon : iniquo
  • As the officially ascribed "good guys," Americans are the survivors of a heroic battle with the iniquitous forces of communism.
  • iniquitous perdition
  • iniquitous and vile

Examples

  • It was an iniquitous hellhole when you left.

  • And the Lord sent them what they craved, and they drank their fill, and they were filled with a promise of things God knew to be iniquitous.

  • What were these passionate, iniquitous measures?

    Blog text (28)
  • The iniquitous gloom is something else.

  • To my horror, I found that I was beginning to accept the false premises of this iniquitous system after only a few months.

    Blog text (12)
  • The major challenges facing the Rwandan education system are seen to be iniquitous funding for schooling levels and low primary completion rates.

    Academic text (2006)
  • The current iniquitous social arrangement of concentrated capital is unsustainable, which is a very Bolshevik social construct.

    Blog text (31)
  • Now, although the objective of relieving the pressures of overpopulation might be morally worthy in the abstract, this concrete way of pursuing such an objective is iniquitous.

    Academic text (2018)
  • The iniquitous practices of the company led to widespread outrage among its employees.

  • Many people spoke out against the iniquitous policies that discriminated against certain groups.

Synonyms

wrong
vsiniquitous
1.0

Not morally right or acceptable

is stronger applying to extreme immoral and unfair behavior
evil
vsiniquitous
1.2

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

adds the idea of extreme moral unfairness as a defining feature
bad
vsiniquitous
1.0

Morally wrong or harmful to other people

is more intense highlighting extreme immorality and unfairness
outrageous
vsiniquitous
192 4.2

Shocking and very wrong in a way that upsets people

is stronger naming extreme immoral acts and unfairness
wicked
vsiniquitous
149 4.6

A person or action that is very bad and cruel

is stronger stressing extreme moral wrongness and unfairness
immoral
vsiniquitous
144 4.6

Not following what most people think is right or wrong

is more severe labeling extreme moral and unfair conduct
despicable
vsiniquitous
  • Offensive
95 5.7

Very bad in a way that makes people feel strong dislike and disgust

is broader used for extreme immorality and unfairness
egregious
vsiniquitous
58 8.9

Very bad and obvious in a way that shocks people

adds moral and unfair seriousness beyond mere shock value
sinful
vsiniquitous
56 3.6

Wrong according to religious or moral rules

is broader covering severe moral and unfair behavior beyond sin
diabolical
vsiniquitous
44 8.2

Very evil and cruel, like a devil

focuses on extreme moral wrongs including unfair actions
inexcusable
vsiniquitous
35 5.6

Too bad to be forgiven

is morally oriented labeling extreme wickedness and unfairness
abominable
vsiniquitous
24 7.2

Very bad or morally wrong so people strongly dislike it

is more focused on extreme moral wrongness and unfairness
ungodly
vsiniquitous
21 7.2

Morally wrong because it goes against religious rules

focuses more on extreme moral wrongs and unfair actions
odious
vsiniquitous
  • Formal
20 8.2

Very unpleasant and likely to make people feel strong dislike

is more about severe moral wrongs and unfair conduct
unholy
vsiniquitous
20 6.3

Extremely cruel and evil, like something from hell

applies more broadly to extreme moral wrongs and unfairness
unworthy
vsiniquitous
  • Offensive
20 5.4

Deserves strong blame or dislike

is stronger naming extreme wickedness and unfairness
dastardly
vsiniquitous
  • Archaic
17 8.4

A person who is very cruel and cowardly, often betraying others secretly

is broader covering extreme immoral and unfair conduct not limited to cowardice
wretched
vsiniquitous
  • Offensive
15 7.1

Very bad in a moral way and deserving strong blame

is more extreme emphasizing gross unfairness and wickedness
fiendish
vsiniquitous
10 7.9

Being very cruel and evil and making others suffer

is about extreme moral wrongness rather than focused cruelty
infernal
vsiniquitous
  • Literature
8 8.3

Very evil and cruel, causing great pain or suffering

covers extreme moral wrongs and unfairness beyond tormenting images
unrighteous
vsiniquitous
  • Formal
5 7.6

Acting in a way that is unfair or morally wrong

is stronger applying to extreme wickedness and unfairness
execrable
vsiniquitous
  • Formal
4 9.5

Very bad and unpleasant, causing strong dislike

is morally centered stressing extreme wickedness and unfairness
invidious
vsiniquitous
  • Formal
3 9.2

Likely to make people feel angry or unfairly treated

is broader covering extreme moral wickedness beyond mere unfairness
flagitious
vsiniquitous
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A very wicked and criminal act that shocks people

is broader covering extreme moral wrongs including unfairness
unmoral
vsiniquitous
  • Archaic
9.1

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

is stronger and more forceful naming extreme wickedness and unfairness

Antonyms

35 4.3

Being morally good and doing what is right

9 1.1

Fair and morally right

How Immoral

wicked
149 4.6
iniquitous
  • Formal
2 9.8
immoral
144 4.6
unjust
70 4.0
wrong
1.0

Surface Forms

iniquitous positive

Morphology

iniquitous = iniquity (transparent) = iniquity + ous

Formed by the productive adjectival suffix '-ous' on the noun 'iniquity', so the adjective's meaning ('characterized by wickedness') is directly derivable from the base.

Etymology

The word iniquitous comes from Latin parts in- meaning 'not' and aequus meaning 'equal', the same root as equal. So iniquitous literally means 'not equal' and is used for actions, laws, or people that are very unfair or morally wrong.