unhealthy

comparative unhealthier · comparative more unhealthy · superlative unhealthiest · superlative most unhealthy

1. Characterized by, or conducive to poor health.

   The villagers lived in unhealthy surroundings.

   2 more examples

   “When left to their own devices, people who are extremely narcissistic in this unhealthy way are not going to change,” said Dr. Malkin, a lecturer at Harvard Medical School who was not involved in the research.

   2024 July 11, Christina Caron, “Narcissism Is a Trait That’s Hard to Shake, Study Says”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 13 Jul 2024

   It makes up an estimated 73 percent of the U.S. food supply, and contains stereotypically “unhealthy” products like sodas, candies and hot dogs as well as seemingly “healthy” ones like whole grain breads, breakfast cereals, flavored yogurts and plant milks.

   2024 September 5, Alice Callahan, “Are Some Ultraprocessed Foods Worse Than Others?”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 14 Sep 2024

   Synonyms: unwholesome

2. Sick or ill.

   He was an unhealthy child.

   1 more example

   ‘And at once he'll be on his high-horse – he knows everything! – and he'll prove, prove, that all unhealthy children must be lethal-chambered or the world will go to pieces.’

   1924, Ford Madox Ford, Some Do Not… (Parade's End), Penguin, published 2012, page 39

3. Tending to corrupt.

   He liked unhealthy reading material.

4. Characterized by disturbed mental health.

   He had an unhealthy interest in fire.