iniquitous

adjective

in·​iq·​ui·​tous i-ˈni-kwə-təs 

: characterized by iniquity

iniquitously adverb

iniquitousness noun

Synonyms

• bad
• dark
• evil
• immoral
• nefarious
• rotten
• sinful
• unethical
• unlawful
• unrighteous
• unsavory
• vicious
• vile
• villainous
• wicked
• wrong

Choose the Right Synonym for iniquitous

vicious, villainous, iniquitous, nefarious, corrupt, degenerate mean highly reprehensible or offensive in character, nature, or conduct.

vicious may directly oppose virtuous in implying moral depravity, or may connote malignancy, cruelty, or destructive violence.

a vicious gangster

villainous applies to any evil, depraved, or vile conduct or characteristic.

a villainous assault

iniquitous implies absence of all signs of justice or fairness.

an iniquitous system of taxation

nefarious suggests flagrant breaching of time-honored laws and traditions of conduct.

the nefarious rackets of organized crime

corrupt stresses a loss of moral integrity or probity causing betrayal of principle or sworn obligations.

city hall was rife with corrupt politicians

degenerate suggests having sunk to an especially vicious or enervated condition.

a degenerate regime propped up by foreign powers

Examples of iniquitous in a Sentence

zero tolerance at the academy for cheating and other iniquitous practices

Recent Examples on the Web

That morning, on the day of his exam, looking up at the stone façades, Gabriel suddenly realized that this was a place that existed not despite but because of the iniquitous history exhibited here. —Daisy Hildyard, The New Yorker, 15 Dec. 2024

Palestinian leaders rejected the 1947 UN Partition Plan for its iniquitous terms, but then accepted partition on significantly less advantageous terms in 1988. —Hussein Agha, Foreign Affairs, 16 Feb. 2021

When those writing about cyber-security and cyber-hacking do so irresponsibly, attempting merely to fan the flames of angst, there is no question that such shoddy and perhaps even iniquitous efforts are sad, hurtful, and do not advance sensibly the battle between cyber-security and cyber-hacking. —Lance Eliot, Forbes, 14 June 2021

The food court was a part of this iniquitous setup. —Angella Choe, Los Angeles Times, 14 Nov. 2022

Corporate America and conservatives consider the very idea of the government’s deciding what to fund and what not to fund iniquitous. —Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 22 Nov. 2021

Similar makeovers have been undertaken on behalf of such iniquitous figures as Blackbeard, Henry VIII, Robespierre and the Marquis de Sade. —Joe Queenan, WSJ, 10 June 2021

And there's a broader drive in American culture to expose iniquitous power relations and reevaluate revered historical figures. —Michelle Goldberg, Star Tribune, 21 May 2021

On January 28, 2020, a lawsuit was filed in federal court in Brooklyn, New York under which 80 people came forward with yet another iniquitous side of NXIVM. —Sarah Midkiff, refinery29.com, 28 Oct. 2020

Word History

First Known Use

1726, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for iniquitous

• ubiquitous

Kids Definition

iniquitous

adjective

in·​iq·​ui·​tous in-ˈik-wət-əs 

: unjust, wicked