unscrupulous
/ʌnˈskruːpjələs/ (bre, ipa) · [ənskrˈupjələs] /ʌnˈskruːpjələs/ (ame, ipa) · [ənskrˈupjələs] /ˌən-ˈskrü-pyə-ləs How to pronounce unscrupulous (audio)/ (ame, mw)
unscrupulous — adjective
- unscrupulouspositive
- more unscrupulouscomparative
- most unscrupuloussuperlative
1. An unscrupulous person lies, cheats, or takes advantage of others without any co
An unscrupulous person lies, cheats, or takes advantage of others without any concern for right and wrong, simply because it helps them succeed or gain an advantage.
After months of delays, the builder's unscrupulous tactics became clear to everyone.
attributive: unscrupulous + tactics
An unscrupulous journalist invented details in the story to make it more exciting.
Amara warned her friends about the unscrupulous company that charged hidden fees.
Diego thought the politician's smooth promises showed an unscrupulous character.
The court punished the bank for its unscrupulous lending practices that trapped poor families.
- unprincipled
very similar in meaning, but slightly more formal and less common in everyday speech
- dishonest
focuses on lying and deception specifically, while 'unscrupulous' also covers unfairness and exploitation
- unethical
more commonly used in professional and business contexts to describe violations of a code of conduct
- immoral
broader and stronger in moral or religious connotation; 'unscrupulous' is more about practical ruthlessness
- scrupulous
careful to do what is morally right; the direct opposite formed by the same root
- principled
acting according to a strong set of moral or ethical principles
用法筆記
This is a strong negative word implying a total lack of moral concern, not just occasional dishonesty. Frequently used in attributive position before nouns like 'tactics', 'methods', 'businessman', or 'behavior'.