it seems unconscionable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it seems unconscionable" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when expressing disbelief or moral outrage about a situation or action that appears to be unjust or unreasonable. Example: "Given the circumstances, it seems unconscionable that they would deny assistance to those in need."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

It seems unconscionable for a city to abandon its citizens in certain areas of the city in terms of nutrition and health.

Huffington Post

Coming into a pristine area like this, it seems unconscionable to have a road that is level, straight and fast".

The New York Times

But it seems unconscionable that the ECB would delegate to a secret committee of self-interested market participants the right to determine what is an acceptable debt restructuring.

The Guardian - Business

I travel for nonprofit organizations to academic meetings; it seems unconscionable to spend three times more of my project's dollars ($855 Boston to Richmond, as opposed to $262) to be able to do my laundry and take a walk with my husband on Saturday.

The New York Times

"It seems unconscionable to me that treatment programs have been so slow to incorporate overdose prevention information into their treatment and discharge planning," Wheeler continues.

Huffington Post

On the surface, it seems unconscionable for the president and board to have met on several occasions since the vote to close the school, without action for financial rightsizing, personnel realignment, or formal institutional response to the legislative threat.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

Because he and Bran, who work from a production kitchen dubbed the Warwick Workshop, were using so much fresh pineapple juice, "it seemed unconscionable to waste" so much of the rest of the pineapple, Windsor said.

Los Angeles Times

By the time the trials began, in October, 1945, the world knew of the death camps, and to many people it seemed unconscionable not to hold the surviving Nazi leaders accountable.

The New Yorker

Josh said that after receiving several text messages with news of the Oakland PD taking down tents and arresting people, he decided to go to downtown Oakland and "see if, as a V.F.P. member, I could help still the anger… to be between the police and the protesters… it seemed unconscionable to me that the police use the cover of darkness like that to do what they were doing".

The New York Times

I've had no problem taking on the Knicks as my preferred N.B.A. team, because I didn't have one before, but latching on to the Jets or Giants or Yankees or Mets over the Chiefs and Royals seems unconscionable.

The New Yorker

It would seem unconscionable that the newspaper would be openly racist or sexist, and use such dismissive descriptors for these groups, yet older people do not seem to be accorded the same degree of courtesy and critical thought.

British Medical Journal

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "it seems unconscionable", ensure the context clearly establishes the moral or ethical principle being violated. This provides a stronger foundation for your judgment.

Common error

Avoid using "it seems unconscionable" for minor inconveniences or disagreements. Reserve it for situations involving genuine injustice or ethical breaches to maintain its impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it seems unconscionable" functions as an expressive assertion, communicating a speaker's strong moral disapproval or outrage regarding a particular situation. Ludwig confirms this phrase is usable, expressing disbelief or moral outrage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "it seems unconscionable" is a powerful expression used to convey strong disapproval or moral outrage. As confirmed by Ludwig, it's grammatically correct and effective for highlighting perceived injustices, particularly in news and media contexts. While it's a potent phrase, reserve its use for truly egregious situations to maintain its impact. Consider alternatives like "it appears outrageous" or "it seems unacceptable" for slightly different nuances. Using this phrase effectively can add weight to your argument and underscore the severity of the issue at hand.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it appears outrageous

Changes "seems unconscionable" to "appears outrageous", emphasizing the shocking nature of the situation.

it feels wrong to

Replaces the formal "unconscionable" with a more direct expression of moral discomfort.

it strikes me as unfair

Shifts the focus to the perceived unfairness of the situation.

it seems unacceptable

Substitutes "unconscionable" with "unacceptable", highlighting that something doesn't meet standards.

it looks unjustifiable

Highlights that something cannot be defended or excused.

it's hard to justify

Replaces the formal "unconscionable" with a more direct expression of inability to justify something.

it seems like a crime

Changes "unconscionable" to "crime", emphasizing the illegal or immoral nature of the situation.

it's morally indefensible

Emphasizes the moral aspect using "morally indefensible".

it seems deeply wrong

Changes "unconscionable" to "deeply wrong", directly expressing the feeling of something bad or unacceptable.

it feels deeply unethical

Emphasizes that something does not conform to accepted standards of social or professional behavior.

FAQs

How can I use "it seems unconscionable" in a sentence?

Use "it seems unconscionable" to express strong disapproval or moral outrage about something. For example: "It seems unconscionable that the company would cut benefits while executives receive large bonuses."

What phrases are similar to "it seems unconscionable"?

Alternatives include "it appears outrageous", "it seems unacceptable", or "it looks unjustifiable", each carrying a slightly different nuance of disapproval.

Is "it seems unconscionable" formal or informal?

"It seems unconscionable" leans towards the formal side due to the word "unconscionable". For a less formal option, consider saying "it feels wrong to" or "it's hard to justify".

What's the difference between "it seems unconscionable" and "it is unconscionable"?

"It seems unconscionable" indicates a subjective judgment based on available information, while "it is unconscionable" asserts it as an objective fact. The former is often more appropriate when presenting an opinion.