unhealthily

/ʌnˈhelθɪli/ (bre, ipa) · /ʌnˈhelθɪli/ (ame, ipa) · /"+ How to pronounce unhealthily (audio)/ (ame, mw)

unhealthily — adverb

1. Showing or causing poor physical condition, either through actions that damage t

1.副詞B2
釋義

Showing or causing poor physical condition, either through actions that damage the body or through an appearance that reveals illness.

例句

Daichi ate unhealthily for years, surviving mostly on instant noodles and sugary drinks.

collocation: eat unhealthily

Zuri's cheeks had an unhealthily flushed look after hiking in the hot sun.

unhealthily + adjective describing appearance

同義詞
  • poorly

    more general — can describe overall condition, not just health-related actions

  • badly

    very common but vaguer; 'eat badly' focuses on food quality rather than health impact

反義詞
  • healthily

    direct opposite — in a way that promotes good physical health

文法句型

unhealthily + verb

unhealthily + adjective

verb + unhealthily

用法筆記

Commonly pairs with adjectives describing physical appearance (pale, thin, flushed) or verbs related to eating, sleeping, and breathing.

常見錯誤

❌He ate unhealthy' (using adjective instead of adverb).
✅He ate unhealthily.
💡'unhealthily' is the adverb form needed to modify verbs.

2. At a level that is emotionally or psychologically damaging, especially when the

2.副詞C1
釋義

At a level that is emotionally or psychologically damaging, especially when the behaviour or state goes beyond what is socially normal.

例句

João became unhealthily obsessed with his phone, checking it every few minutes.

pattern: become unhealthily obsessed with [something]

The team's culture was unhealthily competitive, with colleagues refusing to help each other.

unhealthily + adjective describing atmosphere or behaviour

同義詞
  • morbidly

    stronger, more negative connotation; suggests a disturbing or gloomy quality

  • excessively

    less specific — describes any kind of excess, not necessarily harmful

反義詞
  • healthily

    in a way that promotes mental and emotional wellbeing

文法句型

unhealthily + adjective

become/grow + unhealthily + adjective + preposition

用法筆記

Often precedes adjectives describing excessive or abnormal emotional states: obsessed, dependent, attached, competitive. Distinguish from sense 1, which is limited to physical health conditions.

常見錯誤

❌He was unhealthy obsessed with video games.
✅He was unhealthily obsessed with video games.
💡an adverb is required to modify the adjective 'obsessed'.