unscrupulous
Without ethical restraint
Unscrupulous describes someone who acts without moral principles or ethical restraints, especially in pursuit of their goals.
An unscrupulous lawyer might manipulate evidence; an unscrupulous businessman exploits loopholes or people.
The word implies calculated disregard for fairness or honesty rather than mere carelessness: unscrupulous tactics, unscrupulous dealings.
Crafty and calculating
- connivingSecretly planning wrongdoing
- calculatingColdly self-serving in strategy
- exploitativeUnfairly using others' vulnerabilities
- coerciveUsing pressure to compel
insidious · controlling · cunning · crafty · wily · devious · artful · shrewd
Involving intentional dishonesty
- deceitfulInclined to mislead others
- duplicitousDeliberately deceptive in nature
- misleadingCausing false beliefs
- disingenuousFeigning ignorance or innocence
subterfuge · chicanery · trickery · artifice · guile · sham · pretense · falsehood
Violating moral standards
- dishonestInclined to deceive
- dishonorableLacking integrity or ethics
- unprincipledLacking moral standards
- unconscionableMorally unacceptable, beyond reason
shameless · amoral · nefarious · reprehensible · wrongful · base · ignoble · disreputable
Corrupt payment for influence
- embezzlementFraudulent taking of entrusted assets
- graftIllicit political gain
- kickbacksIllegal return payments
- money launderingDisguising criminal proceeds' origins
extortion · racketeering · profiteering · skimming · tax evasion · fraud · misappropriation · payola
Viciously competitive or murderous
- mercilessShowing no clemency
- pitilessLacking any compassion
- remorselessLacking guilt or pity
- cold-bloodedUnfeeling or externally heated
callous · heartless · unsparing · relentless · dog-eat-dog · predatory · shark · hardball
Excessively desirous of wealth
- rapaciousExcessively grasping or greedy
- graspingGreedy for wealth
- mercenarySoldier fighting for pay
- profiteeringExploiting scarcity for gain
exploitative · usurious · extortionate · money-grubbing · acquisitive · covetous · insatiable · voracious
scheming
Crafty and calculating
- connivingSecretly planning wrongdoing
- calculatingColdly self-serving in strategy
- exploitativeUnfairly using others' vulnerabilities
coercive · insidious · controlling · cunning · crafty · wily · devious · artful · shrewd · sly
fraudulent
Involving intentional dishonesty
- deceitfulInclined to mislead others
- duplicitousDeliberately deceptive in nature
- misleadingCausing false beliefs
disingenuous · subterfuge · chicanery · trickery · artifice · guile · sham · pretense · falsehood · insincere
unethical
Violating moral standards
- dishonestInclined to deceive
- dishonorableLacking integrity or ethics
- unprincipledLacking moral standards
unconscionable · shameless · amoral · nefarious · reprehensible · wrongful · base · ignoble · disreputable · shady
bribery
Corrupt payment for influence
- embezzlementFraudulent taking of entrusted assets
- graftIllicit political gain
- kickbacksIllegal return payments
money laundering · extortion · racketeering · profiteering · skimming · tax evasion · fraud · misappropriation · payola · bid-rigging
cutthroat
Viciously competitive or murderous
- mercilessShowing no clemency
- pitilessLacking any compassion
- remorselessLacking guilt or pity
cold-blooded · callous · heartless · unsparing · relentless · dog-eat-dog · predatory · shark · hardball · no-holds-barred
avaricious
Excessively desirous of wealth
profiteering · exploitative · usurious · extortionate · money-grubbing · acquisitive · covetous · insatiable · voracious · hoarding
- selfish traitsselfish, greedy, self-centered, self-absorbed, egotistical
- wickedevil, wicked, villainous, malicious, sinister
unscrupulousscrupulous
Thorough and principled
principled · ethical · moral · honest · honorable
unscrupulousscrupulous
Thorough and principled
conscientious · punctilious · meticulous · careful · proper
- unscrupulous lendersDishonest providers of credit