unsound

[ uhn-sound ]

adjective

, un·sound·er, un·sound·est.

1. not sound; unhealthy, diseased, or disordered, as the body or mind.

   Synonyms: unhealthy, ill, sick, infirm

2. decayed or impaired, as timber or foods; defective.

   Synonyms: unwholesome, rotten

3. not solid or firm, as foundations.
4. not well-founded or valid; fallacious:

   an unsound argument.

   Synonyms: faulty, erroneous, false

5. easily broken; light:

   unsound slumber.

6. not financially strong; unreliable:

   an unsound corporation.

unsound

/ ʌnˈsaʊnd /

adjective

1. diseased, weak, or unstable

   of unsound mind

2. unreliable or fallacious

   unsound advice

3. lacking solidity, strength, or firmness

   unsound foundations

4. of doubtful financial or commercial viability

   an unsound enterprise

5. (of fruit, timber, etc) not in an edible or usable condition

Derived Forms

• unˈsoundly, adverb
• unˈsoundness, noun

Other Words From

• un·soundly adverb
• un·soundness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of unsound¹

Middle English word dating back to 1275–1325; un- ¹, sound ²

Example Sentences

More than half a dozen experts who spoke with The Times said Kennedy’s suggestions that the science around vaccines is unsound would undercut public health.

From Los Angeles Times

The Tax Foundation, a conservative-leaning think tank, called Trump’s pitch “unsound and fiscally irresponsible,” saying it would increase the budget deficit by $1.6 trillion over 10 years.

From Los Angeles Times

Indeed, when bureaucracies do not innovate, it is often not because they are structurally unsound, but rather because they are held back by politicians who have their own agendas.

From Salon

Breeding and sales remain largely unregulated, and practices like repeated breeding of unsound horses, corrective surgeries and drug use are believed to be widespread.

From New York Times

But in carelessly throwing accusations and supremely untenable breadcrumbs into the internet void, people are partaking in a different kind of morally unsound behavior.

From Salon

Related Words

• defective
• erroneous
• false
• faulty
• flawed
• fragile
• illogical
• inaccurate
• incorrect
• insane
• insecure
• shaky
• unbalanced
• unhealthy
• unreliable
• unsafe
• unstable