unsound

U1N1S1O1U1N1D2
/ˌʌnˈsaʊnd/

adjective

Not whole, not solid, defective.

“unsound mind”

Opposite
Less commonScrabble 8

Meanings

adjectiveunsound (comparative more unsound or unsounder, superlative most unsound or unsoundest)

comparative more unsound · comparative unsounder · superlative most unsound · superlative unsoundest

  1. Not sound
    1. Not whole, not solid, defective.

      unsound mind

      3 more examples

      In the ensuing financial panic, many persons sustained heavy losses, and large numbers of unsound schemes succumbed.

      1946 September and October, “Speculation Run Riot”, in Railway Magazine, page 269

      A striking example comes to mind, in which a scheme to improve the existing buildings finished up as virtually a complete reconstruction, owing to the unsound condition of the original structure!

      1962 October, Brian Haresnape, “Focus on B.R. passenger stations”, in Modern Railways, page 255

      While he is reasonably effusive about inter-city travel, he is heavily disparaging of all types of stopping service, including those on otherwise busy main lines. His analysis is not entirely unsound, and he tackles some of the questions head on.

      2023 March 8, Gareth Dennis, “The Reshaping of things to come...”, in RAIL, number 978, page 47
    2. especiallyInfirm, diseased.

      ... A horse labouring under a temporary injury, capable of being speedily cured, is not unsound within the meaning of a warranty of soundness ...

      1822, Sir John Comyns, Anthony Hammond, A Digest of the Laws of England
    3. UKespeciallyNot good, unreliable.

      You would not like Nietzsche, sir. He is fundamentally unsound.

      1919, P.G. Wodehouse, My Man Jeeves

Synonyms & antonyms

Opposite

adjectivenot in good condition; damaged or decayed

Opposite

adjectivenot sound financially

Opposite

adjectivecontaining or based on a fallacy

adjectivesuffering from severe mental illness

adjectivephysically unsound or diseased

adjectiveof e.g. advice

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*né
  2. Proto-Indo-European*n̥-
  3. Proto-Germanic*un-
  4. Proto-West Germanic*un-
  5. Old Englishun-
  6. Middle Englishun-
  7. Englishun-
  8. Englishsound
  9. Englishunsound

From un- + sound.

Full word history & related roots →

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with unsound

All rhymes →
Cite this entry
APA

unsound. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/unsound

MLA

“unsound.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/unsound. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “unsound,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/unsound.

Source: unsound on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.