1
as in corrupt
having or showing lowered moral character or standards
there's something unclean about this whole business
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in filthy
not clean
a lackadaisical waiter who tried to set our table with smudged glasses and unclean silverware
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unclean
Inspectors found a can of Raid fly spray under the front counter, where there was an unclean floor drain.
—
Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado, Sacbee.com, 23 May 2025
Boiling unclean water in many regions of the world results in air pollution from burning dirty fuels, but the benefits of doing so usually outweigh the risks, a new study has found.
—Sharon Udasin, The Hill, 13 May 2025
Several drivers were noted for racing in an unclean manner, which prompted NASCAR to address them.
—Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Apr. 2025
An employee didn’t wash his hands after handling unclean equipment and then handling food.
—Camila Pedrosa, Sacramento Bee, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unclean
Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado, Sacbee.com, 23 May 2025
Boiling unclean water in many regions of the world results in air pollution from burning dirty fuels, but the benefits of doing so usually outweigh the risks, a new study has found.
—Sharon Udasin, The Hill, 13 May 2025
Several drivers were noted for racing in an unclean manner, which prompted NASCAR to address them.
—Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Apr. 2025
An employee didn’t wash his hands after handling unclean equipment and then handling food.
—Camila Pedrosa, Sacramento Bee, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unclean
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unclean
Adjective
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Entertainment Weekly has an exclusive first look at the film, which follows Ahmed's Ash, an off-the-grid fixer who brokers deals between whistleblowers and corrupt corporations through a message relay service that maintains anonymity.—
Jessica Wang,
EW.com,
5 June 2025
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Sara’s friend from her secret agent days, Teresa, is also taking matters into her own hands after also losing a loved one to a corrupt system.—
Isabella Wandermurem,
Time,
3 June 2025
Adjective
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The law specifically spells out heating problems, pest infestations and filthy conditions as among the issues that could require a court’s intervention.—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
30 May 2025
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Detectives have criminally charged the owner of nearly 50 Belgian Malinois dogs that were found trapped together in a cramped, filthy Queens apartment, police said Wednesday.—
Thomas Tracy,
New York Daily News,
14 May 2025
Adjective
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Each year, about 48 million people in the U.S. get sick with foodborne illnesses, 128,000 are hospitalized, and 3,000 die, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.—
Stephanie Armour,
Miami Herald,
29 May 2025
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The best defense remains up-to-date vaccination, testing when symptomatic, masking in crowded indoor spaces, and staying home when sick.—
Rachael O'Connor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 May 2025
Adjective
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Martin Kove as John Kreese Martin Kove played John Kreese, Johnny's karate mentor, who encourages his students to play dirty and harass Daniel.—
Keith Langston,
People.com,
1 June 2025
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That lack of presence really doesn’t matter, though, since dirty dojos like Cobra Kai and Demolition don’t accept defeat too easily.—
Tim Lammers,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2025
Adjective
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Back staining happens when indigo dye that is released from degraded cellulose during these processes redeposits on the white portions of the garment.—
Andrea Onate,
Footwear News,
28 May 2025
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Maltz served as the lead author on a meta-analysis of how soil inoculation with different species of mycorrhizal fungi can affect degraded ecosystems.—
Lauren Oster,
Smithsonian Magazine,
12 May 2025
Adjective
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Flying by the active asteroid could show exactly what processes are creating the dusty tails streaming from the object and might reveal possibilities scientists haven’t even considered, Kareta said.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN Money,
28 May 2025
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The dry, dusty air can weaken or block hurricane formation.—
Anna Skinner,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 May 2025
Adjective
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In its time open, fueled by fans of its blackened mahi and buttery lobster rolls, owner Mike Smith has expanded his footprint, moving into a larger stall in the popular food hall — which has allowed for a menu expansion, as well.—
Amy Drew Thompson,
Orlando Sentinel,
6 Dec. 2022
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There are no glamorous furnishings — just a French window, its blackened panes suggesting the dark of night.—
Christopher Knight,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Oct. 2022
Adjective
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So Far The game’s two trailers poke fun at many Florida-isms with insane characters like the dual hammer-wielding woman, a sunburned man watering his lawn in a speedo, and spring breakers and locals partying heavily by posh pools and muddy monster truck rallies.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
26 May 2025
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The ports had to invent themselves in the first place, out of muddy marshes and shallows, to become the present-day enterprises doing billions of dollars of business and compete and partner with the massive Asian container ports across the Pacific.—
Patt Morrison,
Los Angeles Times,
24 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unclean.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unclean. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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