UNWHOLESOME Synonyms: 73 Similar and Opposite Words

unwholesome

adjective

ˌən-ˈhōl-səm

Definition of unwholesome

as in poisonous

bad for the well-being of the body health inspectors shut down several food stands that were using tainted and unwholesome meat

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in corrupt

having or showing lowered moral character or standards despite having been raised in such unwholesome environments as a brothel and a traveling circus, singer Edith Piaf rose to international stardom

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 unwholesome Their jail is strange and unwholesome. — Robert Rubsam, The Atlantic, 26 Mar. 2026 Grievous bodily harm, nonconsensual drugging, murder, yes…still, thank god there’s nothing unwholesome here, like say a man in a dress. — Dennis Harvey, Variety, 14 Mar. 2026 The public, however, knew what to expect from this unwholesome mixture of politics and celebrity and didn’t tune in. — Sean Williams, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026 As for the place, its veneer of comfortable tourism doesn’t hide the air of something unwholesome, especially when female guests start randomly throwing up. — David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Feb. 2024

Recent Examples of Synonyms for unwholesome

Adjective

But the point was just that Nick’s character is emulating Sheridan’s poisonous corrupted values, and the internet is a vehicle for that relationship.

— Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 27 Aug. 2026
For this reason, these poisonous mushrooms are more commonly confused with other types of edible mushrooms like chicken of the woods and chanterelles (more on these in a minute).

— Katie Hill, Outdoor Life, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of poisonous

Adjective

And Alice’s superior, FBI agent Nora Washington (Quincy Tyler Bernstine), realizes that her corrupt boss Ed George (Danny McCarthy), who was covering up Easton’s crimes, will retain his ASAC position at the FBI.

— Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 31 Aug. 2026
That strategy allowed the Kremlin to publicly deny the existence of political repression while portraying the opposition as inherently corrupt.

— Andrei Soldatov, Foreign Affairs, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of corrupt

Adjective

Warnings of unhealthful air quality remained in effect Saturday across a wide swath of the United States due to smoke from Canadian wildfires that has engulfed the Northeast in haze for days.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 18 July 2026
The soil may contain pathogens, pesticides and other unhealthful things.

— Joan Morris, Mercury News, 9 Feb. 2026

Definition of unhealthful

Adjective

Energy analysts have consistently cautioned that raising Venezuelan output meaningfully will take years and billions of dollars in repairs to degraded infrastructure.

— Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 29 Aug. 2026
That matters because degraded land is not simply an environmental concern.

— Shooka Bidarian, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of degraded

Adjective

Prosecutors argued at trial that Shirilla intentionally drove into the building to end her toxic relationship with Russo and that Flanagan was an unintended victim who happened to be in the car.

— Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 2 Sep. 2026
For bouquets, Wahlen recommends choosing one type of flower that has already been identified as non-toxic rather than an arrangement filled with unfamiliar stems and greenery, where a dangerous flower may be tucked among otherwise safe blooms.

— Lauren Paige Richeson, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of toxic

Adjective

Some recalls, Eskin said, are made after companies’ routine testing catches a pathogen before anyone gets sick, while others involve outbreaks that are already underway and vary widely in size and severity.

— Dian Zhang, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026
Sanchez also ordered a meal from Taco Bell, but didn’t get sick.

— Rebecca Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of sick

Adjective

Even the Barbie doll, while often derided for promoting an unhealthy body image for developing children, offered girls a glimpse of a different future than as a wife and mother, Kimmel argues.

— Andrew Silow-Carroll, Sun Sentinel, 31 Aug. 2026
Mental-health professionals have become remarkably good at helping clients identify unhealthy relationships.

— David H. Rosmarin, Time, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of unhealthy

Adjective

Beneath Lamb’s unkempt appearance, crude manners, noxious flatulence, and stinging remarks lies one of the sharpest minds in MI5 and a man fiercely protective of his brood of misfits.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 17 Aug. 2026
So does an animal have enough brain real estate to understand that this thing is noxious?

— Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of noxious

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unwellness

unwholesome

unwieldy

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“Unwholesome.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unwholesome. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of unwholesome

adjective

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