unethical
Against professional standards
Unethical describes conduct that violates moral principles or professional standards of right behavior.
An unethical lawyer might bill for work not performed; an unethical experiment might harm subjects without consent.
The word implies judgment against accepted norms rather than personal opinion: The committee found his actions unethical.
Lacking moral standards
- unscrupulousLacking moral principles
- reprehensibleDeserving condemnation
- unconscionableMorally unacceptable, beyond reason
- wrongfulWithout legal right
dishonorable · shameful · indefensible · morally bankrupt · egregious · deplorable · contemptible · inexcusable
Corrupt payment for influence
- embezzlementFraudulent taking of entrusted assets
- kickbacksIllegal return payments
- nepotismPreferring kin in hiring
- cronyismFavoring friends in appointments
graft · extortion · money laundering · racketeering · influence peddling · insider trading · malfeasance · misappropriation
Causing false beliefs
- duplicitousDeliberately deceptive in nature
- deceitfulInclined to mislead others
- fraudulentInvolving intentional dishonesty
- disinformationIntentional deceptive falsehoods
propaganda · manipulative · false advertising · bait-and-switch · misrepresentation · fabrication · distortion · spin
Unjust differential treatment
- biasUnfair inclination or prejudice
- prejudicePreformed unfavorable opinion
- inequityUnfair distribution or treatment
- unfairnessUnjust or biased treatment
favoritism · oppression · bigotry · racism · sexism · ageism · classism · marginalization
Exploitative manufacturing workplace
- child laborMinors performing paid work
- predatory lendingExploitative loan terms
- usuryExtortionate money lending
- human traffickingCriminal trade in people
underpay · overwork · wage theft · coercion · indentured servitude · sexual exploitation · power imbalance · labor violation
Investigative journalism piece
- disgraceLoss of honor
- infamyExtreme public disgrace
- notorietyFame from misdeeds
- outrageFierce moral indignation
backlash · condemnation · controversy · whistleblower · cover-up · resignation · public outcry · accountability
unprincipled
Lacking moral standards
- unscrupulousLacking moral principles
- reprehensibleDeserving condemnation
- unconscionableMorally unacceptable, beyond reason
wrongful · dishonorable · shameful · indefensible · morally bankrupt · egregious · deplorable · contemptible · inexcusable · transgressive
bribery
Corrupt payment for influence
- embezzlementFraudulent taking of entrusted assets
- kickbacksIllegal return payments
- nepotismPreferring kin in hiring
cronyism · graft · extortion · money laundering · racketeering · influence peddling · insider trading · malfeasance · misappropriation · payola
misleading
Causing false beliefs
- duplicitousDeliberately deceptive in nature
- deceitfulInclined to mislead others
- fraudulentInvolving intentional dishonesty
disinformation · propaganda · manipulative · false advertising · bait-and-switch · misrepresentation · fabrication · distortion · spin · gaslighting
discrimination
Unjust differential treatment
- biasUnfair inclination or prejudice
- prejudicePreformed unfavorable opinion
- inequityUnfair distribution or treatment
unfairness · favoritism · oppression · bigotry · racism · sexism · ageism · classism · marginalization · exclusion
sweatshop
Exploitative manufacturing workplace
- child laborMinors performing paid work
- predatory lendingExploitative loan terms
- usuryExtortionate money lending
human trafficking · underpay · overwork · wage theft · coercion · indentured servitude · sexual exploitation · power imbalance · labor violation · price gouging
exposé
Investigative journalism piece
outrage · backlash · condemnation · controversy · whistleblower · cover-up · resignation · public outcry · accountability · downfall
- moralitymoral, moral values, immoral, moral principles, moral code
- moral judgmentsgood, evil, wicked, virtuous, moral
- unfairnessunfair, unjust, biased, unequal, inequitable
- unacceptableunacceptable, inappropriate, improper, wrong, forbidden
- disgustdisgust, disgusting, disgusted, revulsion, repulsion
- scandalscandal, infamy, disgrace, coverup, cover-up
unethicalethical
Conforming to moral principles
professional · legitimate · proper · legal · compliant
unethicalhonest
Free from deception
trustworthy · fair · decent · upstanding · respectable
- unethical behaviorActions violating moral principles
- unethical conductMorally improper behavior
- unethical practicesMorally wrong professional behavior