1
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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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
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
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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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In reality, leaders on both sides are corrupt and always on the edge of disaster.
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My career actually focuses on bonding and preventing taxpayers from being on the hook for the failures of bankrupt and corrupt companies.
Adjective
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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.
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The soil may contain pathogens, pesticides and other unhealthful things.
Adjective
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Even when degraded, enzymes have stable backbones that might be capable of catalyzing reactions, said Sudha Rajamani, an astrobiologist at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune who wasn’t involved in the study.
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According to the company, QTT enables highly secure and resilient position, navigation, and timing (PNT) services, helping maintain accurate timing and synchronization even when traditional GPS and radio-frequency signals are unavailable, degraded, or intentionally jammed.
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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Having a sick pet is emotionally a lot to handle.
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Preventing infestation Just because one calf is sick doesn’t mean the entire herd will get it, Cammack said.
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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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.
Cite this Entry
“Unwholesome.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unwholesome. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
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