unprincipled
Lacking ethical standards
Unprincipled describes someone who lacks moral principles or scruples—willing to act dishonestly or unfairly for personal gain.
An unprincipled politician pursues power without ethical restraint.
An unprincipled businessman cheats customers and partners alike.
The word suggests not merely bad judgment but a fundamental absence of integrity: an unprincipled liar who would say anything to get what he wanted.
Corrupt payment for influence
- embezzlementFraudulent taking of entrusted assets
- fraudIntentional criminal trickery
- kickbackIllegal payment for services
- nepotismPreferring kin in hiring
extortion · graft · profiteering · racketeering · scandal · venal · malfeasance · crooked
Inclined to deceive
- deceitfulInclined to mislead others
- schemingCrafty and calculating
- cunningSly, scheming cleverness
- shadyDisreputable or sun-blocked
underhanded · crafty · sly · manipulative · conniving · treacherous · devious · untrustworthy
Morally corrupt, perverse
- wickedEvil or slang-excellent
- sinfulViolating moral law
- nefariousExtremely evil or villainous
- vileExtremely unpleasant or bad
dishonorable · base · evil · iniquitous · shameless · sordid · vicious · unethical
Useful if not ideal
- indifferentLacking interest or concern
- detachedApart or uninvolved
- nihilisticRejecting meaningful existence
- consciencelessHaving no moral sense
remorseless · cold-blooded · heartless · callous · unfeeling
bribery
Corrupt payment for influence
- embezzlementFraudulent taking of entrusted assets
- fraudIntentional criminal trickery
- kickbackIllegal payment for services
nepotism · extortion · graft · profiteering · racketeering · scandal · venal · malfeasance · crooked · dirty
dishonest
Inclined to deceive
shady · underhanded · crafty · sly · manipulative · conniving · treacherous · devious · untrustworthy · guileful
depraved
Morally corrupt, perverse
vile · dishonorable · base · evil · iniquitous · shameless · sordid · vicious · unethical · reprehensible
expedient
Useful if not ideal
- indifferentLacking interest or concern
- detachedApart or uninvolved
- nihilisticRejecting meaningful existence
conscienceless · remorseless · cold-blooded · heartless · callous · unfeeling
unprincipledprincipled
Having strong moral beliefs
ethical · moral · honorable · scrupulous · honourable