as in poisonous
bad for the well-being of the body
the unhealthful level of smog in the city
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Recent Examples of unhealthful
Onshore winds are pushing smoke from the Sandy fire into Los Angeles County, where neighborhoods from the San Fernando Valley to Arcadia could face unhealthful air for sensitive groups.
—
Los Angeles Times,
22 May 2026
The soil may contain pathogens, pesticides and other unhealthful things.
—
Joan Morris,
Mercury News,
9 Feb. 2026
The unhealthful effects of autocracy remain robust even when accounting for economic differences and when excluding Venezuela and its collapsing health-care system.
—
Thomas J. Bollyky,
Foreign Affairs,
30 Jan. 2020
See All Example Sentences for unhealthful
Los Angeles Times,
22 May 2026
The soil may contain pathogens, pesticides and other unhealthful things.
—
Joan Morris,
Mercury News,
9 Feb. 2026
The unhealthful effects of autocracy remain robust even when accounting for economic differences and when excluding Venezuela and its collapsing health-care system.
—
Thomas J. Bollyky,
Foreign Affairs,
30 Jan. 2020
See All Example Sentences for unhealthful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unhealthful
Adjective
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The cane toad, also known as the bufo toad or the marine toad, is known for the large, poisonous glands behind its eyes that secrete toxins when it’s touched.
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Berlin — Authorities across Germany have been battling an aggressive outbreak of poisonous caterpillars, which can cause severe health issues and have led to the closure of parks and other outdoor spaces, including in Berlin.
Adjective
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Decomposing food can release hydrogen sulfide, a toxic gas synonymous with landfills and garbage.
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Low employee morale often grows from ongoing negative interactions and toxic workplace cultures.
Adjective
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After more than a decade as a reviewer, Jason Bennett has an unhealthy love for rogue-like survival games and terrible puns.
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Air quality in the Marysvale area is expected to reach unhealthy levels by the afternoon and evening.
Adjective
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Their jail is strange and unwholesome.
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Grievous bodily harm, nonconsensual drugging, murder, yes…still, thank god there’s nothing unwholesome here, like say a man in a dress.
Adjective
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The thick, noxious smoke billowing out of a Los Angeles warehouse has been a fixture of the city’s skyline for almost a week as crews race to contain a fire at a cold-storage facility holding 85 million pounds of frozen food.
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Last year, it was widely reported that xAI was deploying dozens of portable combustion turbines to power its data centers, flooding the largely Black and working class communities nearby with noxious fumes.
Adjective
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Work took place in the spring and early summer and the pool was refilled in June, but an algae bloom returned just days later, turning the pool a sickly green color.
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In the heyday of her career, her choppy hair, flat chest, sickly pallor and large darting eyes were a manic pixie dream.
Cite this Entry
“Unhealthful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unhealthful. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
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