Unscrupulous
/ʌnˈskruːpjələs/
adjectiveC1
Definition
Unscrupulous means not having or showing any moral principles (rules about right and wrong). It describes people or actions that are dishonest, unfair, or willing to do bad things to get what they want. Such behavior ignores fairness and kindness.
Was this helpful?
See It in Action
Describing a person who acts without moral principles
- •The unscrupulous businessman lied to customers to make more money.
- •She was unscrupulous in her competition, using secret tricks.
- •Unscrupulous people often hurt others to get what they want.
Describing actions that are dishonest or unfair
- •Unscrupulous tactics were used to win the election.
- •The company faced criticism for its unscrupulous advertising.
- •Many warned about unscrupulous deals that could cause loss.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "unscrupulous" like "bad" but more about ignoring rules or fairness, not just being mean
- ✓Picture someone cheating in a game without caring if it hurts others or breaks the rules
- ✓It's the feeling of distrust when you know someone will lie or trick to win
- ✓Sounds like "un-SCROO-py-lus" → imagine someone throwing away a "scruple" (a small feeling of guilt) and acting freely without care
- ✓Think of a story where a character lies or cheats without feeling sorry or guilty
- ✓NOT like "careless" (which means not paying attention), "unscrupulous" means choosing to do wrong on purpose
- ✓NOT like "rude" (which is about manners), it is about breaking moral rules or ethics
- ✓NOT like "honest" or "fair," unscrupulous is the opposite, ignoring what is right
Try Other Words
- •Immoral: not following moral rules (Use when focusing on breaking moral or ethical rules)
- •Dishonest: not truthful or fair (Use for lying or cheating in general situations)
- •Unethical: against professional or social rules of right and wrong (Use in formal or professional contexts)
- •Corrupt: morally bad, often related to power or money (Use when talking about serious wrongdoing, especially in politics or business)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: prefix "un-" (not) + root "scrupulous" (careful about right and wrong)
- •Etymology: From Latin "scrupulus," meaning a small sharp stone that causes worry or doubt; "scrupulous" means careful or honest, so "unscrupulous" means without this carefulness
- •Historical development: Used since the 1600s to describe people without moral doubts or care
- •Modern usage: Commonly used to describe dishonest or unfair people or actions, especially in business or politics
- •Key insight: The word focuses on ignoring feelings of guilt or moral concern, acting without conscience
Reflect & Connect
•Can someone be successful without being unscrupulous? Why or why not?
•How do you decide if a behavior is unscrupulous or just a mistake?
Fill in the blanks
1.The unscrupulous seller convinced customers to buy ___ products by lying about their quality.
2.When a person is unscrupulous, they usually do not feel ___ about hurting others.
3.Unlike honest competitors, unscrupulous ones use ___ methods to win.
4.The company was punished because it used unscrupulous ___ that misled people.
5.People often avoid doing business with unscrupulous individuals because they cannot be ___.
6.Unscrupulous behavior is ___ accepted in most societies because it breaks moral rules.
7.If someone acts unscrupulous, they ignore ___ about right and wrong when making decisions.