Unclean — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /ˌən-ˈklēn/ un·clean

Meaning & Definition of Unclean

Unclean (adjective)

  1. dirty, filthy
  2. morally or spiritually impure
  3. infected with a harmful supernatural contagion; also, prohibited by ritual law for use or contact

Unclean (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. having or showing lowered moral character or standards

    "there's something unclean about this whole business"

    similar: corrupt, debased, debauched, decadent, degenerate, degraded, demoralized, depraved, dissipated, dissolute, jackleg, libertine, loose, perverse, perverted, rakehell, rakish, reprobate, sick, unwholesome, warped
    related: bent (chiefly British), crooked, cutthroat, dishonest, unethical, unprincipled, unscrupulous, contaminated, spoiled, tainted, bad, evil, immoral, iniquitous, miscreant, nefarious, sinful, vicious, wicked
    opposite: pure, uncorrupt, uncorrupted
    near: incorruptible, ethical, honest, principled, good, moral, righteous, virtuous

  2. not clean

    "a lackadaisical waiter who tried to set our table with smudged glasses and unclean silverware"

    similar: bedraggled, befouled, begrimed, bemired, besmirched, black, blackened, cruddy, dingy, dirty, draggled, dusty, filthy, foul, grimy, grotty (chiefly British), grubby, grungy, mucky, muddy, nasty, smudged, smutty, soiled, sordid, stained, sullied, uncleanly
    related: contaminated, defiled, germy, impure, polluted, tainted, insanitary, uncleaned, unsanitary, unsterile, unsterilized, unwashed, greasy, gunky, chaotic, cluttered, confused, disarranged, disarrayed, disheveled, disordered, jumbled, littered, messed, messy, muddled, mussed, mussy, rumpled, scruffy, sloppy, slovenly, unkempt, untidy, raunchy, scuzzy (slang), shabby, skanky (slang), sleazy, squalid, collied (chiefly British dialect), crocked (dialect), fuliginous, sooty
    opposite: clean, cleanly, immaculate, spick-and-span, spotless, stainless, ultraclean, unsoiled, unstained, unsullied
    near: clear, limpid, pure, cleaned, cleansed, combed, groomed, neat, ordered, orderly, tidy, bleached, purified, whitened, bright, flawless, perfect, shiny, sparkling, unspotted, untouched, taintless, unblemished, undefiled, unpolluted, untainted, virgin, wholesome

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Unclean

The most common words with a similar meaning to Unclean:

Chiefly British: grotty
corrupt, debased, debauched, decadent, degenerate, degraded, demoralized, depraved, dissipated, dissolute, jackleg, libertine, loose, perverse, perverted, rakehell, rakish, reprobate, sick, unwholesome, warped, bedraggled, befouled, begrimed, bemired, besmirched, black, blackened, cruddy, dingy, dirty, draggled, dusty, filthy, foul, grimy, grubby, grungy, mucky, muddy

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Unclean

Words with the opposite meaning of Unclean:

pure, uncorrupt, uncorrupted, clean, cleanly, immaculate, spick-and-span, spotless, stainless, ultraclean, unsoiled, unstained, unsullied

Related Words for Unclean

bent, crooked, cutthroat, dishonest, unethical, unprincipled, unscrupulous, contaminated, spoiled, tainted, bad, evil, immoral, iniquitous, miscreant, nefarious, sinful, vicious, wicked, defiled, germy, impure, polluted, insanitary, uncleaned, unsanitary, unsterile, unsterilized, unwashed, greasy

Near Antonyms of Unclean

incorruptible, ethical, honest, principled, good, moral, righteous, virtuous, clear, limpid, cleaned, cleansed, combed, groomed, neat, ordered, orderly, tidy, bleached, purified, whitened, bright, flawless, perfect, shiny, sparkling, unspotted, untouched, taintless, unblemished

Word Forms of Unclean

Derived words: uncleanness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Unclean

First known use: before 12th century

Frequently Asked Questions about Unclean

What does "Unclean" mean?

"Unclean" means dirty, filthy. As an adjective, it is defined as: dirty, filthy. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Unclean"?

Other words for "Unclean" include corrupt, debased, debauched, decadent, degenerate, degraded, demoralized and depraved. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Unclean" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Unclean"?

There are 110 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Unclean". Common alternatives include corrupt, debased, debauched, decadent, degenerate, degraded, demoralized, depraved, dissipated and dissolute.

What is the opposite of "Unclean"?

Antonyms of "Unclean" include pure, uncorrupt, uncorrupted, clean, cleanly, immaculate, spick-and-span and spotless. Near antonyms include incorruptible, ethical, honest and principled.

How do you use "Unclean" in a sentence?

Examples of "Unclean" in a sentence: "there's something unclean about this whole business"; "a lackadaisical waiter who tried to set our table with smudged glasses and unclean silverware".

Is "Unclean" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Unclean" is an adjective.

How do you pronounce "Unclean"?

"Unclean" is pronounced /ˌən-ˈklēn/ and divided into syllables as un·clean.

What is the origin of the word "Unclean"?

First known use: before 12th century.