unscrupulous
unscrupulous Lexical Profile
unscrupulous Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Having or showing no moral principles; not honest or fair in behavior or dealings.
"Consumer protection laws were enacted to shield elderly citizens from unscrupulous telemarketers."
Word Nuance & Usage
While 'scrupulous' has evolved two distinct modern meanings—'morally principled' and 'painstakingly thorough or meticulous'—its negative counterpart 'unscrupulous' applies exclusively to the moral sense (meaning unethical or dishonest), never to a lack of care or thoroughness.
• Rhymes for unscrupulous
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Formed in the early 17th century from the prefix 'un-' and 'scrupulous', which derives from the Latin 'scrupulus', meaning a small, sharp stone. Romans used the image of a sharp pebble lodged in one's shoe as a metaphor for a pricking, uneasy conscience; thus, an unscrupulous person is untouched by any nagging moral discomfort.