unscrupulous activities

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "unscrupulous activities" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe actions or behaviors that are unethical or lacking in moral principles. Example: "The investigation revealed a series of unscrupulous activities that violated company policies and legal regulations."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

He said legislation before the Senate changed Teqsa's focus from re-checking the credentials of established "low risk" universities to "focusing on what it was intended to do, that is focus on new providers and potentially unscrupulous activities".

The Guardian

The act was a reaction to a host of unscrupulous activities that had fueled speculation in the Roaring '20s, leading to the stock market crash of 1929 and the Great Depression.

Harvard Business Review

But a judge halted the auction after Mr. Hudson and his wife, Maud, who is also a performer, requested a temporary restraining order and filed a complaint in State Supreme Court in Ulster County accusing Mr. Piazza of all manner of unscrupulous activities.

The New York Times

By this point in the show, three of Vitali's best men have been thrown in jail for unscrupulous activities.

Vice

Indeed, they dismiss current attempts by regulators to ban unscrupulous activities as a "whack-a-mole game".

Huffington Post

In fact, since 2009, huge financial institutions have paid $176 billion in fines and settlement payments for fraudulent and unscrupulous activities.

HuffPost

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

Instead, the policy amendment is addressing the need to mitigate nefarious and unscrupulous activity that may arise as the asset class continues to popularize.

Forbes

At its core, crime and unscrupulous activity are once again the order of the day.

Vice

Presumably, there are many, many others that go undetected, where savvy criminals use the loopholes in the current legal system to ply their unscrupulous activity.

Huffington Post

At its core, crime and unscrupulous activity are once again the order of the day, yet Los Santos has since become more than just a playground to engage in unlawful enterprise, following GTA V's release in late 2013 on PS3, November 2014 on Xbox One and PS4, and last April on PC.

Vice

There was a lot of disorganization, and it became a place where there was a lot of unscrupulous activity". In 1976, Central Casting was sold to private interests and is currently a division of Entertainment Partners, one of Hollywood's leading payroll and production services companies.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider replacing the phrase with stronger alternatives like "fraudulent schemes" or "corrupt practices" for emphasis.

Common error

While "unscrupulous activities" is acceptable, overuse of this phrase in formal or academic writing can weaken your message. Try to diversify your vocabulary by using stronger and more precise terms, like "malfeasance" or "deceitful practices".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "unscrupulous activities" functions as a noun phrase, where "unscrupulous" is an adjective modifying the noun "activities". As Ludwig AI suggests, it describes actions that are unethical, dishonest, or morally questionable. This phrase is used to identify and categorize specific instances of misconduct.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Academia

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "unscrupulous activities" effectively labels unethical actions. According to Ludwig AI the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English. It's commonly employed across diverse contexts, especially in news reporting, scientific studies and formal business settings. While "unscrupulous activities" is widely understood, it is crucial to consider context and the need of more specific wording for clarity and impact. Using a thesaurus can significantly help finding the perfect alternative. The phrase carries a neutral register, suitable for objective discussions and critical evaluations of misconduct.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unethical practices

Replaces "activities" with "practices", emphasizing established and potentially widespread unethical behavior.

dishonest dealings

Focuses on the lack of honesty in business or personal interactions.

fraudulent schemes

Highlights the deceitful and illegal nature of the actions, specifically implying a plan or plot.

corrupt practices

Emphasizes the abuse of power for personal gain, often in a political or organizational context.

deceptive behaviors

Broadens the scope to include any actions intended to mislead or create a false impression.

exploitative actions

Highlights the act of taking unfair advantage of someone for personal benefit.

immoral conduct

Refers to behavior that violates accepted moral principles and standards.

underhanded tactics

Suggests the use of sneaky and unfair methods to achieve a goal.

nefarious deeds

Emphasizes the wickedness and evil nature of the actions.

shady operations

Implies a secretive and potentially illegal nature of the activities.

FAQs

How can I use "unscrupulous activities" in a sentence?

You can use "unscrupulous activities" to describe unethical or morally wrong actions. For example: "The investigation revealed a pattern of "unscrupulous activities" within the company."

What are some alternatives to "unscrupulous activities"?

You can use alternatives like "unethical practices", "dishonest dealings", or "fraudulent schemes" depending on the specific context.

What distinguishes "unscrupulous activities" from "illegal activities"?

"Unscrupulous activities" refers to actions that are morally wrong or unethical, while "illegal activities" refers to actions that violate the law. While there can be overlap, something can be unscrupulous without being illegal, and vice versa.

Is "unscrupulous activity" or "unscrupulous activities" grammatically correct?

Both phrases are grammatically correct. "Unscrupulous activity" refers to the concept in general as an uncountable noun, while "unscrupulous activities" refers to specific instances of such actions, the plural form is more common though.