INIQUITOUS Synonyms: 164 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'iniquitous' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of iniquitous are corrupt , degenerate , nefarious , vicious , and villainous . While all these words mean "highly reprehensible or offensive in character, nature, or conduct," iniquitous implies absence of all signs of justice or fairness. // an iniquitous system of taxation

Q: In what contexts can 'corrupt' take the place of 'iniquitous'?

While the synonyms corrupt and iniquitous are close in meaning, corrupt stresses a loss of moral integrity or probity causing betrayal of principle or sworn obligations. // city hall was rife with corrupt politicians

Q: When could 'degenerate' be used to replace 'iniquitous'?

In some situations, the words degenerate and iniquitous are roughly equivalent. However, degenerate suggests having sunk to an especially vicious or enervated condition. // a degenerate regime propped up by foreign powers

Q: When can 'nefarious' be used instead of 'iniquitous'?

The synonyms nefarious and iniquitous are sometimes interchangeable, but nefarious suggests flagrant breaching of time-honored laws and traditions of conduct. // the nefarious rackets of organized crime

Q: When might 'vicious' be a better fit than 'iniquitous'?

While in some cases nearly identical to iniquitous , vicious may directly oppose virtuous in implying moral depravity, or may connote malignancy, cruelty, or destructive violence. // a vicious gangster

Q: Where would 'villainous' be a reasonable alternative to 'iniquitous'?

The words villainous and iniquitous are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, villainous applies to any evil, depraved, or vile conduct or characteristic. // a villainous assault

iniquitous

adjective

i-ˈni-kwə-təs

Definition of iniquitous

as in unlawful

not conforming to a high moral standard; morally unacceptable zero tolerance at the academy for cheating and other iniquitous practices

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How does the adjective iniquitous differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of iniquitous are corrupt, degenerate, nefarious, vicious, and villainous. While all these words mean "highly reprehensible or offensive in character, nature, or conduct," iniquitous implies absence of all signs of justice or fairness.

an iniquitous system of taxation

In what contexts can corrupt take the place of iniquitous?

While the synonyms corrupt and iniquitous are close in meaning, corrupt stresses a loss of moral integrity or probity causing betrayal of principle or sworn obligations.

city hall was rife with corrupt politicians

When could degenerate be used to replace iniquitous?

In some situations, the words degenerate and iniquitous are roughly equivalent. However, degenerate suggests having sunk to an especially vicious or enervated condition.

a degenerate regime propped up by foreign powers

When can nefarious be used instead of iniquitous?

The synonyms nefarious and iniquitous are sometimes interchangeable, but nefarious suggests flagrant breaching of time-honored laws and traditions of conduct.

the nefarious rackets of organized crime

When might vicious be a better fit than iniquitous?

While in some cases nearly identical to iniquitous, vicious may directly oppose virtuous in implying moral depravity, or may connote malignancy, cruelty, or destructive violence.

a vicious gangster

Where would villainous be a reasonable alternative to iniquitous?

The words villainous and iniquitous are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, villainous applies to any evil, depraved, or vile conduct or characteristic.

a villainous assault

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of iniquitous Our community is small, and when someone like Scott comes along, we are comforted and start growing confidence that perhaps the city administration will look back at the iniquitous history that left us landless in our own homeland. — Richard B. Williams, Denver Post, 10 Sep. 2025 That morning, on the day of his exam, looking up at the stone façades, Gabriel suddenly realized that this was a place that existed not despite but because of the iniquitous history exhibited here. — Daisy Hildyard, The New Yorker, 15 Dec. 2024 Corporate America and conservatives consider the very idea of the government’s deciding what to fund and what not to fund iniquitous. — Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 22 Nov. 2021 Similar makeovers have been undertaken on behalf of such iniquitous figures as Blackbeard, Henry VIII, Robespierre and the Marquis de Sade. — Joe Queenan, WSJ, 10 June 2021 Palestinian leaders rejected the 1947 UN Partition Plan for its iniquitous terms, but then accepted partition on significantly less advantageous terms in 1988. — Hussein Agha, Foreign Affairs, 16 Feb. 2021

Recent Examples of Synonyms for iniquitous

Adjective

Spires is also charged with felony unlawful possession of a firearm by a dangerous person and three misdemeanors, while Wilson is also charged with two misdemeanors, filings show.

— Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026
Put more bluntly, sports event contracts are protected by federal law in some parts of the country but remain vulnerable elsewhere to states deeming them unlawful.

— Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of unlawful

Adjective

Presumably everybody wants the evidence to hold people who commit serious crimes accountable, but nobody wants to turn into the evil empire in the process.

— Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026
Her parents refuse to see that there is something unnatural about their new baby boy and that an evil other presence haunts their stately home.

— Tanya Fedak, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of evil

Adjective

My prescribed low-carb, caffeine-free diet sounded horrifying on paper, but my sinful pleasures were replaced with a tasty, high-quality, and healthy alternative that left me more energized.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 July 2026
Critics also have challenged the report’s characterization of cases involving women, contending these were consensual affairs that were sinful but not abusive.

— ABC News, ABC News, 25 June 2026

Definition of sinful

Adjective

Detectives charged him with murder, manslaughter and criminal possession of a weapon for the vicious attack that killed his mother, 57-year-old Josefa Soto de Guzman, on Friday.

— Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 26 Aug. 2026
Pace, skill, a vicious shot, the ability to make opposition defenders look like fools.

— James Horncastle, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of vicious

Adjective

Kiss off the haters with a pretty wicked portrait from our Free Photobooth.

— Beatrice Verhoeven, HollywoodReporter, 25 Aug. 2026
Along with other large parts of Northwest Indiana, East Chicago was hit with power outages following a wicked storm that blasted through the area a week ago Tuesday.

— Lauren Victory, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of wicked

Adjective

On top of the moving-camera-foamy-dark-mouth challenge, there was the plaque challenge.

— Jenny Bailly, Allure, 1 Sep. 2026
Finley’s breakout was the 2017 dark comedy Thoroughbreds, in which Olivia Cooke and Anya Taylor-Joy play high-schoolers conspiring to kill an abusive stepfather.

— Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of dark

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iniquities

iniquitous

iniquitousness

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“Iniquitous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/iniquitous. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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