unfair
Rigged against you
Unfair describes treatment, conditions, or judgments that violate standards of justice or equality.
An unfair advantage gives one side unearned benefit.
Unfair wages fail to compensate adequately.
That's unfair is the universal protest of children—and adults—who feel wronged.
The word implies a breach of what's right, not just what's preferred.
Unfair distribution or treatment
- wrongdoingUnethical or illegal action
- oppressionUnjust exercise of power
- disparityMeasurable difference between things
- inequalityUnequal distribution of resources
exploitation · abuse · tyranny · violation · marginalization · disenfranchisement · persecution · victimization
Unfair favor toward some
- prejudicePreformed unfavorable opinion
- favoritismPreferential treatment of some
- one-sidednessImbalanced viewpoint or treatment
- discriminationUnjust differential treatment
partisanship · nepotism · subjectivity · bigotry · chauvinism · racism · sexism · ageism
Formal claim of unfairness
- protestPublic expression of disapproval
- objectionExpression of disapproval
- outcryLoud public protest
- indignationAnger from mistreatment
resentment · foul play · raw deal · short end · gypped · stacked deck · moving goalposts · not right
Displeasure from blocked efforts
- angerIntense hostile emotion
- resentmentPersistent bitter displeasure
- bitternessSharp, unpleasant taste or feeling
- indignationAnger from mistreatment
outrage · dismay · disbelief · hurt · betrayal · disappointment · exasperation · aggravation
inequity
Unfair distribution or treatment
- wrongdoingUnethical or illegal action
- oppressionUnjust exercise of power
- disparityMeasurable difference between things
inequality · exploitation · abuse · tyranny · violation · marginalization · disenfranchisement · persecution · victimization · wrongful
partiality
Unfair favor toward some
- prejudicePreformed unfavorable opinion
- favoritismPreferential treatment of some
- one-sidednessImbalanced viewpoint or treatment
discrimination · partisanship · nepotism · subjectivity · bigotry · chauvinism · racism · sexism · ageism · homophobia
grievance
Formal claim of unfairness
indignation · resentment · foul play · raw deal · short end · gypped · stacked deck · moving goalposts · not right · crooked
frustration
Displeasure from blocked efforts
- angerIntense hostile emotion
- resentmentPersistent bitter displeasure
- bitternessSharp, unpleasant taste or feeling
indignation · outrage · dismay · disbelief · hurt · betrayal · disappointment · exasperation · aggravation · vexation
- moral judgmentsgood, evil, wicked, virtuous, moral
- U-wordsugly, ultimate, ultra, umbrella, unable
- unfairnessunjust, biased, unequal, inequitable, one-sided
- competition typesfierce, intense, cutthroat, heated, friendly
- viewpoint traitsimpartial, objective, biased, neutral, subjective
- qualitative judgmentsgood, bad, better, worse, best
unfairethical
Conforming to moral principles
honest · moral · principled · righteous · honorable
unfairsporting
Honorably accepting risk
sportsmanlike · fair · sportsmanly · sporty · clean
- unfair advantageUnearned competitive benefit
- unfair treatment
- unfair tradeExchange with imbalanced terms
- unfair practicesUnethical conduct in business
- unfair dismissalImproper ending of employment
- treating unfairly
unfasten, unfairly, unfairness, unfavorable, unfathomable, unfading, unfaltering, unfairer, unfairest