1
as in foolish
showing or marked by a lack of good sense or judgment
made the unwise decision to invest in a brand-new company
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in inappropriate
showing poor judgment especially in personal relationships or social situations
an unwise urge to confide in total strangers
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in stupid
not having or showing a deep understanding of something
a stunningly unwise observer of the political scene
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unwise
But for liberals to respond to this moment by acting as defenders of a disappearing status quo would be unwise.
—
Ivan Krastev, The Atlantic, 3 Jan. 2025
Carter compounded this weakness by surrounding himself with loyalists and outsiders, fatally unwise to the ways of Washington.
—Bloomberg Opinion, Twin Cities, 2 Jan. 2025
The Trump administration would also be unwise to ignore global institutions, such as the World Trade Organization, as doing so would dramatically raise the likelihood of unbounded conflict.
—Scott Kennedy, Foreign Affairs, 26 Nov. 2024
The Santas are so popular that the tap-dancing number was reinstated about six years ago in response to audience demand after symphony officials made the unwise decision to drop the act from the event line-up.
—Mary Carole McCauley, Baltimore Sun, 20 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for unwise 
Ivan Krastev, The Atlantic, 3 Jan. 2025
Carter compounded this weakness by surrounding himself with loyalists and outsiders, fatally unwise to the ways of Washington.
—Bloomberg Opinion, Twin Cities, 2 Jan. 2025
The Trump administration would also be unwise to ignore global institutions, such as the World Trade Organization, as doing so would dramatically raise the likelihood of unbounded conflict.
—Scott Kennedy, Foreign Affairs, 26 Nov. 2024
The Santas are so popular that the tap-dancing number was reinstated about six years ago in response to audience demand after symphony officials made the unwise decision to drop the act from the event line-up.
—Mary Carole McCauley, Baltimore Sun, 20 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for unwise
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unwise
Adjective
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Many of the angel families here today were betrayed by the last administration and with its heartless, and foolish, and really very arrogant and dumb policies.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
29 Jan. 2025
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Walking away from that security might have seemed foolish at the time, but twelve years later, King runs a digital empire that has redefined entertainment.—
Ian Shepherd,
Forbes,
23 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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In stark contrast, Lauren Sanchez's choice of a white suit with a visible lace corset was inappropriate for the occasion, earning a notably low score in dress and presence.—
Kristen Waggoner,
Newsweek,
21 Jan. 2025
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Bad reviews, inappropriate comments and shabby online engagements have the opposite effect and can potentially leave a permanent mark against the company name.—
Dmitry Malin,
Forbes,
21 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
There are no more stupid questions and an open, supportive, and curious culture evolves.—
Darpan Munjal,
Forbes,
21 Jan. 2025
-
The cliché that Americans are stupid and lazy is as pernicious as the cliché that teenagers are, well, stupid and lazy.—
John Hodgman,
New York Times,
16 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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This Sabrina is silly and effusive and a tad bit privileged.—
Stephanie McNeal,
Glamour,
28 Jan. 2025
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Looking silly is a small price to pay for a memorable first impression.—
Randall Colburn,
EW.com,
28 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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After the March 19 incident, Huger, 61, was charged with a DUI and DWI, negligently driving a vehicle in a careless and imprudent manner endangering property, life, and person, as well as recklessly driving a vehicle in wanton and willful disregard for the safety of persons and property.—
Stephanie Wenger,
People.com,
19 Dec. 2024
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Noem has been an imprudent governor of South Dakota on COVID-19 policy and other issues.—
George Liebmann,
Baltimore Sun,
22 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Courts should continue to quickly reject his absurd, insulting, and ahistorical legal arguments, which violate the clear text of the 14th Amendment.—
Elizabeth Wydra and Nina Henry,
Newsweek,
28 Jan. 2025
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Ironically, its only real payoff is its surreal magnitude of Drake-centricity (down to casting a look-alike), which largely ends up being absurd and hilarious thanks to events entirely outside of the film’s purview.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
28 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Lawyers for Harry, 40, the younger son of King Charles III, will set out to show that the News Group executives concealed and sought to destroy evidence of hacking and other improper practices.—
Mark Landler,
New York Times,
18 Jan. 2025
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According to the Electrical Safety Foundation International, over 65,000 home fires are the result of improper heating equipment usage in the United States.—
Graeme Taskerud,
The Denver Post,
18 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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He could not be seen, just as the little black boy was not seen, or was seen inaccurately, by the unperceptive and disdainful white boy.—
Louise Glück,
The New York Review of Books,
14 Jan. 2021
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Memory, conveyed by an unperceptive, mechanically flowing camera, seems disconnected from culture.—
Armond White,
National Review,
19 Nov. 2021
Thesaurus Entries Near unwise
Cite this Entry
“Unwise.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unwise. Accessed 4 Feb. 2025.
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