unhealthy

adjective

un·​healthy ˌən-ˈhel-thē How to pronounce unhealthy (audio)
unhealthier; unhealthiest
Synonyms of unhealthynext
1
: not conducive to health : not healthful
an unhealthy climate
unhealthy habits
unhealthy foods
2
: not in good health : sickly, diseased
unhealthy animals
3
a
: risky, unsound
an unhealthy economy
b
: of a harmful nature : bad, injurious
unhealthy eating habits
unhealthy levels of lead
c
: involving or causing feelings or thoughts that are not normal and healthy
an unhealthy relationship
has an unhealthy interest in natural disasters
unhealthily
ˌən-ˈhel-thə-lē How to pronounce unhealthy (audio)
adverb
unhealthiness
ˌən-ˈhel-thē-nəs How to pronounce unhealthy (audio)
noun

Synonyms of unhealthy

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Examples of unhealthy in a Sentence

Her skin looks blotchy and unhealthy. Tests revealed an unhealthy level of lead in the water. Eating honey can be unhealthy for babies. He was stuck in an unhealthy relationship. She has an unhealthy interest in natural disasters.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
To be sure, practicing a zest for life can be harder for those who have physical illness and pain and those who engage in unhealthy lifestyle behaviors. — Joan M. Cook, Time, 17 Oct. 2026 Air quality in Singapore remained unhealthy on Thursday, as smoke from widespread fires in Indonesia's Kalimantan region continued to drift toward the city-state, according to the National Environment Agency. — Jenny Lee,zechariah Chan, CNBC, 15 Oct. 2026 Proponents say the money will prioritize the removal of small dead or unhealthy trees in overly dense areas. — Shaun Boyd, CBS News, 12 Oct. 2026 Southern food may have a reputation for being heavy and unhealthy, but celebrity chef Tiffany Derry says that stereotype misses a big part of what's traditionally been served on tables across the South. — Peter Burke, FOXNews.com, 10 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unhealthy

Word History

First Known Use

1595, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of unhealthy was in 1595

Rhymes for unhealthy

See All Rhymes for unhealthy

Browse Nearby Words

unhealthiness
unhealthy
unheard
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Cite this Entry

“Unhealthy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unhealthy. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

unhealthy

adjective
un·​healthy ˌən-ˈhel-thē How to pronounce unhealthy (audio)
1
: not conducive to good health : not healthful
an unhealthy climate
2
: not in good health : sickly, diseased
3
a
: risky, unsound
an unhealthy economy
b
: injurious, bad
unhealthily
-thə-lē How to pronounce unhealthy (audio)
adverb
unhealthiness
-thē-nəs How to pronounce unhealthy (audio)
noun

Medical Definition

unhealthy

adjective
un·​healthy -ˈhel-thē How to pronounce unhealthy (audio)
unhealthier; unhealthiest
1
: not conducive to health
an unhealthy climate
2
: not in good health : sickly
unhealthiness noun
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