Synonyms
- balmy
- barmy [chiefly British]
- bats
- batty
- bedlam
- bonkers
- brainsick
- bughouse [slang]
- certifiable
- crackbrained
- cracked
- crackers
- crackpot
- cranky [dialect]
- crazed
- crazy
- cuckoo
- daffy
- daft
- demented
- deranged
- fruity [slang]
- gaga
- haywire
- insane
- kooky
- kookie
- loco [slang]
- loony
- looney
- loony tunes
- looney tunes
- lunatic
- mad
- maniacal
- maniac
- mental
- meshuga
- meshugge
- meshugah
- meshuggah
- moonstruck
- non compos mentis
- nuts
- nutty
- psycho
- psychotic
- scatty [chiefly British]
- screwy
- unbalanced
- unhinged
- wacko
- whacko
- wacky
- whacky
- wud [chiefly Scottish]
Examples of unsound in a Sentence
The roof is structurally unsound.
disgruntled relatives tried to prove that the woman was of unsound mind when she made her will
Recent Examples on the Web
But financial professionals caution against following advice proliferating on the social media platform that might be unsound.
—Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 12 Apr. 2024
Several structural engineers found the River East at Grandview Condominiums, on Talbert Street SE, dangerous, unlivable and structurally unsound; its very foundation has for years been sinking toward a steep drop-off that slopes down toward the residential street below.
—Danny Nguyen, Washington Post, 12 Feb. 2024
Keeping the building in place and doing whatever is necessary to make the structurally unsound building safe.
—Sherry Greenfield, Baltimore Sun, 31 Jan. 2024
The disconcerting reality is that illusions of scientific legitimacy and flawed expert testimony are often the catalyst for deeply unsound convictions.
—David Robert Grimes, Scientific American, 8 Dec. 2023
See all Example Sentences for unsound
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'unsound.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of unsound was
in the 14th century
Phrases Containing unsound
Dictionary Entries Near unsound
Cite this Entry
“Unsound.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unsound. Accessed 13 Jun. 2024.
Kids Definition
unsound
adjective
un·sound
ˌən-ˈsau̇nd
ˈən-
1
: not healthy or whole
an unsound horse
2
: not mentally normal : not wholly sane
of unsound mind
3
: not firmly made, placed, or fixed
an unsound structure
4
: not based on truth or logic
unsound arguments
unsoundness
noun
-ˈsau̇n(d)-nəs
Medical Definition
unsound
adjective
un·sound
-ˈsau̇nd
: not sound: as
a
: not healthy or whole
an unsound limb
an unsound horse
b
: not mentally normal : not wholly sane
of unsound mind
c
: not fit to be eaten
unsound food
unsoundness
noun
Legal Definition
unsound
adjective
un·sound
ˌən-ˈsau̇nd
: not sound: as
a
: not healthy or whole
b
: not mentally normal : not wholly sane
of unsound mind
c
: not firmly made, placed, or fixed
d
: not valid or true
an unsound argument
unsoundly
adverb
unsoundness
noun
More from Merriam-Webster on unsound
Nglish: Translation of unsound for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of unsound for Arabic Speakers
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