uncurbed

uncurbed — adjective

  • uncurbedpositive
  • more uncurbedcomparative
  • most uncurbedsuperlative

1. not kept within limits or prevented from growing, spreading, or continuing

1.adjectiveC1
Definition

not kept within limits or prevented from growing, spreading, or continuing

Example

Uncurbed spending left the project without money by June.

uncurbed spending

The mayor warned that uncurbed traffic would damage the old town.

uncurbed traffic

Common collocations
  • uncurbed spending
  • uncurbed growth
  • uncurbed pollution
  • remain uncurbed
  • leave something uncurbed
Synonyms
  • unchecked

    common in formal writing about harmful growth or spread

  • uncontrolled

    broader and more common; can describe behaviour, fire, disease, or movement

  • unrestrained

    formal; stresses lack of holding back

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

uncurbed + noun

remain uncurbed

leave something uncurbed

Usage Note

Uncurbed is formal and much less common than 'unchecked' or 'uncontrolled'. It usually describes something harmful that authorities failed to limit.

Common Mistakes

Do not use 'uncurbed' for a road without a curb at the edge. In this sense, 'curb' means control or limit.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

Uncurbed, unchecked, uncontrolled, and unrestrained all describe a lack of limits, but 'uncurbed' is the rarest and most formal. 'Unchecked' is common for problems that spread because no one intervenes, such as disease or corruption. 'Uncontrolled' is broader and works for fire, anger, movement, or spending. 'Unrestrained' often describes behaviour, emotion, or expression that is not held back.

uncurbed ↗unchecked ↗uncontrolled ↗unrestrained ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • uncurbed spending
  • uncurbed growth
  • uncurbed pollution
  • uncurbed traffic

Adverbs

  • largely uncurbed
  • still uncurbed

Phrases

  • remain uncurbed
  • leave something uncurbed
  • continue uncurbed

Etymology

English

Uncurbed is formed from 'un-' plus 'curbed', the past participle of 'curb' in the sense 'to control or limit'.