unwarranted

/ ʌnˈwɒrəntɪd /

adjective

1. lacking justification or authorization
2. another word for unwarrantable

Example Sentences

Any public voice who suggests that everything is going to be fine and that panic or despair are unwarranted should not be taken seriously.

From Salon

The 27-year-old admitted making unwarranted demands with menaces for sexual videos and images from 16 individual women.

From BBC

That hasn’t deterred AI promoters from unwarranted boasting about their products.

From Los Angeles Times

With the statute of limitations expired for a manslaughter charge, it is likely the officer would be tried for murder, which Hochman said is unwarranted.

From Los Angeles Times

Victim Support wants the CPS to get the court to intervene when cross-examination is inappropriate and subjects witnesses to unwarranted or irrelevant attacks on their character.

From BBC

Related Words

• baseless
• gratuitous
• groundless
• indefensible
• inexcusable
• unconscionable
• undue
• unfair
• unfounded
• unjust
• unjustifiable
• unjustified
• unprovoked
• unreasonable

More About Unwarranted

What does unwarranted mean?

Unwarranted describes something that is not justified or not authorized, as in The government reading citizens’ emails is an unwarranted invasion of privacy. 

Unwarranted is also used to mean that something exists without reason, as in His fear of being attacked by an army of killer mosquitos was unwarranted. 

Unwarranted is another word for unwarrantable, which means something is inexcusable or unreasonable.

Example: Crystal tried to relieve her son’s unwarranted stress about alien invasions caused by the scary movie.

Where does unwarranted come from?

The first records of unwarranted come from around 1577. It combines the prefix un-, meaning “not,” with the word warrant, meaning “to authorize” or “to give good reason for.” If something is unwarranted, it is “not warranted.” It lacks authority or a good reason.

Unwarranted is often used to describe something that is considered illogical or based on poor reasoning.

It’s also used to label something as being illegal or unjustifiable that a person has no power or excusable reason to do. Someone might defend a seemingly extreme or bizarre decision or action as being “not unwarranted,” as in I assure you that my fears of a humongous earthquake are not unwarranted.     

Did you know ... ?

What are some synonyms for unwarranted?

• baseless
• groudless
• indefensible
• inexcusable
• unfounded

What are some words that share a root or word element with unwarranted? 

• warrant

What are some words that often get used in discussing unwarranted?

• attention
• seriousness
• conclusion
• searches
• seizures
• fear
• concern

How is unwarranted used in real life?

Unwarranted is often used to describe something of being inexcusable or lacking a legal justification. It is also used more generally to mean something lacks a logical explanation or reason behind it.

Am l the only one who is waiting patiently for a profuse and eloquent apology from our government on the unwarranted attack on the Catholic Bishops.

I am an optimist to a fault. I have faith in the goodness in all of us even in our brokenness. #ZimbabaweanLivesMatter

— Trevor Ncube (@TrevorNcube) August 17, 2020

The Supreme Judicial Court has agreed to hear an appeal from the @BostonGlobe arguing that electronic indexes of birth and marriage records are public records and that disclosure would not be an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy. (CC: @FiveFreedoms)

— Bob McGovern (@BobMcGovernJr) October 28, 2018

Perhaps the unwarranted fear that I'll never speak again after losing my voice has led me to be more aggressive than usual today.

— Amy Berg (@bergopolis) July 26, 2016

 

 

Try using unwarranted!

Which of the following is a synonym of unwarranted?

A. unneeded
B. unjustifiable
C. unwanted
D. unclear