unjustly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "unjustly" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an action that is done in a manner that is not fair or morally right. Example: "He was unjustly accused of a crime he did not commit."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The initiative is about keeping the stories of unjustly persecuted people alive, giving moral support, he added.

The Guardian

"The strategy should include consistent public and private diplomatic pressure to end this cruel practice, showing how the death penalty has failed to deter crime and been unjustly applied".

The Guardian

"Even though the other journalists have been accused unjustly, at least they are going to be able to defend themselves," his brother Mosa'ab Elshamy, an acclaimed photographer, told the Guardian.

The Guardian

Theo observes that many people remain outraged that the Ugandan authorities not only failed to protect them, but also unjustly blamed the Acholi for supporting the LRA and committed atrocities of their own.

The Guardian

A rash of denunciations saw many imprisoned unjustly by the military, who would seldom confess who they had in prison and who they didn't.

The Guardian

But is it possible Gove, a restless reformer unjustly loathed on the left, might become an unlikely liberal hero by pointing out the glaring contradictions for conservatives to be supporting perhaps the most grotesque state failure of them all?

The Guardian - Opinion

Was Richard an innocent man unjustly blamed for their deaths, or was his funeral last week – complete with tearful crowds clutching white York roses, the Countess of Wessex and Benedict Cumberbatch (Richard's third cousin, 16 times removed, gasped divine-right fetishists) – a tasteless glorification of a double child-murderer?

The Guardian - Film

Let us not disparage the police unjustly.

The Guardian

More than two-thirds of the wine consumed in Mexico is still imported, mainly from Spain, Chile and Argentina (Americans unjustly remain a bit sniffy about selling to Mexicans; Mexicans unjustly feel the same about American wine).Smaller-scale wine producers face obstacles.

The Economist

People are unjustly prosecuted, punished for spurious crimes; the "special" or "revolutionary" courts come up with inexplicable judgments.

The Economist

The diplomats' visit perhaps brought home to the government that if it were to be seen unjustly imprisoning a rather frail 69-year-old lady, it might in effect be helping Mrs Zia pose as an emblem of democratic virtue.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "unjustly", ensure the context clearly establishes the unfairness or lack of justification. Provide specific details to support the claim of injustice.

Common error

Avoid using "unjustly" without providing context or evidence of the unfairness. Simply stating something is "unjustly" done without supporting details weakens the statement.

Linguistic Context

The adverb "unjustly" modifies verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs to indicate that an action or state is carried out in an unfair or inequitable manner. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. For example, "He was "unjustly" accused."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Science

12%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

1%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the adverb "unjustly" effectively conveys the idea of actions performed in an unfair or morally wrong manner. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically sound and readily usable across different writing styles. It commonly appears in "News & Media", indicating its frequent use in journalistic contexts. When using "unjustly", ensure the context supports the claim of unfairness with concrete details. Alternatives include "unfairly", "wrongfully", and "undeservedly", each carrying slightly different connotations. Avoid using "unjustly" without sufficient evidence or context to support the assertion of injustice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unfairly

Indicates a lack of justice or equity; a direct synonym.

wrongfully

Suggests an action done against what is morally correct or lawful.

undeservedly

Highlights that treatment is not warranted or merited.

unjustifiably

Emphasizes the lack of a valid reason or excuse for the action.

improperly

Suggests the action deviates from established norms or rules.

illegitimately

Indicates the action is not in accordance with the law or rules.

arbitrarily

Suggests an action based on random choice or personal whim, rather than any reason or system.

erroneously

Emphasizes that the action is based on a mistake or incorrect information.

unduly

Suggests that something is excessive or inappropriate in degree or extent.

inappropriately

Highlights that something is not suitable for a particular situation or purpose.

FAQs

How can I use "unjustly" in a sentence?

Use "unjustly" to describe actions or treatments that are not fair or morally right. For example, "He was "unjustly accused" of a crime he didn't commit".

What is a synonym for "unjustly"?

A common synonym for "unjustly" is "unfairly". Other options include "wrongfully" or "undeservedly".

When is it appropriate to use "unjustly" instead of "unfairly"?

"Unjustly" carries a stronger connotation of moral or legal wrong than "unfairly". Use "unjustly" when the situation involves a significant violation of justice or rights.

What's the difference between "unjustly" and "wrongfully"?

"Unjustly" emphasizes the lack of fairness or equity, while "wrongfully" often implies a violation of law or moral principles. Both can be used to describe something that isn't right, but their nuances differ slightly.