unfounded

[ uhn-foun-did ]

adjective

1. without foundation; not based on fact, realistic considerations, or the like:

   unfounded suspicions.

   Synonyms: unjustified, unsubstantiated, false, idle, groundless

2. not established; not founded:

   the prophet of a religion as yet unfounded.

unfounded

/ ʌnˈfaʊndɪd /

adjective

1. (of ideas, allegations, etc) baseless; groundless
2. not yet founded or established

Derived Forms

• unˈfoundedness, noun
• unˈfoundedly, adverb

Other Words From

• un·founded·ly adverb
• un·founded·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of unfounded¹

First recorded in 1640–50; un- ¹ + found ¹ + -ed ²

Example Sentences

Since then, Mellaart’s unfounded claim about goddess worship has persisted for decades.

From Popular-Science

Additionally, there have been unfounded charges on social media that Ginni Thomas played a role in helping to pay for bus transportation for some of those attending the rally.

From Washington Post

Videos circulating on social media before and after the riots captured the tension involving those who support the president’s unfounded allegations that the election was stolen.

From Washington Post

Now, it reports all complaints, including those determined to be unfounded as well as those stemming from investigations conducted by individual commands, the agency told Marx.

From Voice of San Diego

A typical conspiracy theory features an unfounded warning that buses loaded with protesters are being sent to cause trouble in small towns.

From MIT Technology Review

“These charges are completely unfounded,” Wolf told The Daily Beast.

From The Daily Beast

In this, I would later figure out that both of those concerns were unfounded.

From The Daily Beast

But it is unfounded fear by an American public at minimal risk of contracting the illness that is confounding those efforts.

From The Daily Beast

Health officials , doctors and researchers roundly agree that these concerns are unfounded.

From The Daily Beast

One might wonder if Mario thinks that Judge Rakoff, too, had reached an “outrageous, unfounded conclusion” about his son.

From The Daily Beast

I've had enough of your futile questioning, your unfounded suspicions, your absurd deductions!

From Project Gutenberg

A vague, ridiculous, unfounded sort of jealousy of the Harpers had begun to insinuate itself.

From Project Gutenberg

The concept is based upon an unfounded belief in the competence of the average man.

From Project Gutenberg

The apprehensions, however, which were entertained by a few short-sighted people were unfounded.

From Project Gutenberg

I thought his opinions unfounded and erroneous, as to the general course of the government, and ventured to reply to them.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• baseless
• deceptive
• fabricated
• false
• gratuitous
• groundless
• illogical
• misleading
• spurious
• unjustified
• unproven
• unsubstantiated
• untrue
• untruthful
• unwarranted