unsportsmanlike
Against fair play
Unsportsmanlike describes conduct that violates the spirit of fair play and good behavior expected in athletic competition.
Actions like taunting opponents, faking injuries, or arguing with officials are unsportsmanlike and may draw penalties.
The term extends beyond sports to characterize any behavior that seems petty, vindictive, or contrary to accepted standards of decency: It was unsportsmanlike of him to gloat about her failure.
The variant unsporting carries the same meaning and is more common in British English.
Insulting to provoke
- trash-talkingInsulting opponents to unsettle
- divingEntering water deliberately
- simulationImitation of real processes
- floppingFalling loosely, without control
gloating · showboating · baiting · gamesmanship · sledging · heckling · excessive celebration · time-wasting
Insulting to provoke
- trash talkCompetitive verbal intimidation
- showboatingOstentatious self-display
- gloatingSmug triumph display
- mockeryScornful ridicule or travesty
jeering · goading · baiting · provocation · celebration · hotdogging · rubbing it in · sore loser
Unfair attack or remark
- late hitFoul after play ends
- flagrant foulUnnecessary or excessive contact
- targetingSelecting as objective
- brawlingFighting noisily in public
fighting · retaliation · roughing · unnecessary roughness · violent conduct · takedown
Unnecessary or excessive contact
- technical foulNon-contact basketball violation
- unnecessary roughnessPenalty for excessive violence
- late hitFoul after play ends
- cheap shotUnfair attack or remark
elbowing · tripping · clipping · holding · slashing · charging · illegal contact · hack
Selfish use of others
- advantageFavorable position or circumstance
- inequityUnfair distribution or treatment
- one-sidednessImbalanced viewpoint or treatment
- running up the scoreContinuing to score unnecessarily
unethical · misconduct · violation · infraction · foul play · bad faith · sharp practice
Official sporting misconduct warning
- red cardMatch ejection notice
- ejectionForced removal from somewhere
- suspensionTemporary halt or exclusion
- disqualificationRemoval from eligibility
fine · forfeit · sanction · sin bin · match penalty · power play · shorthanded · disciplinary action
Loss of honor
- shamePainful awareness of failure
- scandalDisgraceful public affair
- disreputeDamaged public standing
- infamyExtreme public disgrace
conduct unbecoming · ejection · suspension · ban · sanction · penalty · rebuke · reprimand
Aggressively unfriendly
- belligerentHostile and eager to clash
- combativeInclined toward conflict
- antagonisticActively opposed or hostile
- confrontationalInclined toward hostile encounters
aggressive · bullying · intimidating · provocative · disrespectful · contemptuous · arrogant · cocky
Prohibited athletic drug use
- corkingSlang for first-rate
- deflatingReleasing contained gas
- juicingExtracting produce liquid
- riggingRopes controlling ship sails
point-shaving · sandbagging · tanking · circumventing · pine tar · videotaping
taunting
Insulting to provoke
- trash-talkingInsulting opponents to unsettle
- divingEntering water deliberately
- simulationImitation of real processes
flopping · gloating · showboating · baiting · gamesmanship · sledging · heckling · excessive celebration · time-wasting · provocation
taunting
Insulting to provoke
- trash talkCompetitive verbal intimidation
- showboatingOstentatious self-display
- gloatingSmug triumph display
mockery · jeering · goading · baiting · provocation · celebration · hotdogging · rubbing it in · sore loser · boasting
cheap shot
Unfair attack or remark
- late hitFoul after play ends
- flagrant foulUnnecessary or excessive contact
- targetingSelecting as objective
brawling · fighting · retaliation · roughing · unnecessary roughness · violent conduct · takedown
flagrant foul
Unnecessary or excessive contact
- technical foulNon-contact basketball violation
- unnecessary roughnessPenalty for excessive violence
- late hitFoul after play ends
cheap shot · elbowing · tripping · clipping · holding · slashing · charging · illegal contact · hack · boarding
exploitation
Selfish use of others
- advantageFavorable position or circumstance
- inequityUnfair distribution or treatment
- one-sidednessImbalanced viewpoint or treatment
running up the score · unethical · misconduct · violation · infraction · foul play · bad faith · sharp practice
yellow card
Official sporting misconduct warning
- red cardMatch ejection notice
- ejectionForced removal from somewhere
- suspensionTemporary halt or exclusion
disqualification · fine · forfeit · sanction · sin bin · match penalty · power play · shorthanded · disciplinary action · warning
disgrace
Loss of honor
infamy · conduct unbecoming · ejection · suspension · ban · sanction · penalty · rebuke · reprimand · yellow card
hostile
Aggressively unfriendly
- belligerentHostile and eager to clash
- combativeInclined toward conflict
- antagonisticActively opposed or hostile
confrontational · aggressive · bullying · intimidating · provocative · disrespectful · contemptuous · arrogant · cocky · ungracious
doping
Prohibited athletic drug use
rigging · point-shaving · sandbagging · tanking · circumventing · pine tar · videotaping
unsportsmanlikesportsmanlike
Honorable in competition
sportsmanly · fair · sporting · clean · gracious
unsportsmanlikehonorable
Having high moral standards
ethical · principled · scrupulous · moral · just
- unsportsmanlike conductRule-breaking competitive behavior
sportsman, sportsmanship, sportive, sportsmanlike, sportswoman, sportspeople, sportsmen, sportiest, unsporting