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

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

Then, following the 1971 Sylmar earthquake, the Wadsworth Hospital building was judged seismically unsound and demolished.

From Los Angeles Times

Compounding the danger, unsound floodplain development is destroying coastal habitat in such places as Jakarta, Indonesia; Lagos, Nigeria; Houston; and Florida, where Gov. Ron DeSantis recently signed legislation banning any reference to climate change by state agencies.

From Los Angeles Times

The judge pointed out that there was no evidence to support that theory, and he faulted the prosecutors for legally unsound charges, like alleging assault while making claims about actions merely being negligent.

From Slate

Related Words

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