unscrupulously

USAGE SUMMARY

'unscrupulously' is a correct and perfectly usable word in written English.
It is an adverb that means to act or behave without moral principles or ethics. It is often used to describe someone who acts dishonestly or unfairly in situations. An example of using 'unscrupulously' in a sentence could be: He unscrupulously used his position of power to manipulate others for his own gain.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

40 human-written examples

He should be willing to break treaties and to respond unscrupulously to unscrupulous enemies.

The Guardian - Books

It was not started by McCarthy; he merely used it for his own purposes, stupidly and unscrupulously.

The Economist

It's also clear that there are some rogue doctors and "pill mills" who unscrupulously hand out prescriptions, sometimes to patients who shouldn't get them, sometimes to drug addicts and drug dealers pretending to be pain patients.

The Economist

But it has been given a fresh edge by John Fuegi's critical biography "Bertolt Brecht: His Life and Lies", which claims in great detail what most Brecht scholars knew already that he was unscrupulously disinclined to acknowledge the input of his co-workers and behaved like a rat to his lovers.

The Economist

This caused an outcry from businessmen, whose profits Scaevola had kept within bounds; he was prosecuted for "extortion" in 92 and convicted after a trial in which Roman publicani and businessmen unscrupulously used their power among the class that provided criminal juries.

Encyclopedia Britannica

As The Massacre introduces in the duke of Guise a figure unscrupulously avid for power, so in the younger Mortimer of Edward II Marlowe shows a man developing an appetite for power and increasingly corrupted as power comes to him.

Encyclopedia Britannica

However unscrupulously, Schliemann became a symbol of the romance and excitement of archaeology.

Encyclopedia Britannica

To safeguard his livelihood from unscrupulously pirated editions, he fought to obtain legislation protecting artist's copyright and held back the eight-part Rake's Progress until a law of that nature, known as the Hogarth Act, was passed in 1735.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Now he has a visit from a lawyer who explains that the clinic had used the product unscrupulously — Wozniak (who, in those transactions, used the pseudonym Starbuck) is the biological father of five hundred and thirty-three children, a hundred and forty-two of whom are suing to overturn the anonymity agreement and learn his identity.

The New Yorker

There is nothing jocularly nice about the François Périer character, whom we see unscrupulously bullying and blackmailing a near-prostitute to try to break down the alibi she has loyally given Jef.

The New Yorker

(Android, iOS, Xbox One) An elegant mobile-phone game that has been unscrupulously copied and resold by less imaginative developers, Threes! instructs its players simply to "Swipe to combine tiles".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "unscrupulously", ensure the context clearly indicates a violation of ethical or moral standards, not merely a lack of skill or knowledge.

Common error

Avoid using "unscrupulously" to describe actions that are simply incompetent or unskilled. This adverb specifically denotes a moral failing, not a lack of proficiency.

Linguistic Context

The adverb "unscrupulously" primarily functions to modify verbs, adverbs, or adjectives, indicating that an action is performed or a quality is exhibited without moral principles. Ludwig AI indicates that the word is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Encyclopedias

21%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Science

5%

Reference

5%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "unscrupulously" is a grammatically correct and frequently used adverb that describes actions performed without moral principles. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. Its usage spans various contexts, including news, encyclopedias, and formal writing, signaling its widespread applicability. To ensure clarity, use "unscrupulously" only when emphasizing a lack of ethics rather than mere incompetence, thereby maintaining precision and impact in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in an unethical manner

Focuses specifically on the violation of ethical codes or standards.

without regard for morals

Highlights the conscious disregard for moral standards in decision-making.

acting without integrity

Emphasizes the lack of moral soundness and honesty.

without conscience

Emphasizes the absence of moral consideration or guilt.

with no principles

Focuses on the absence of guiding moral principles.

devoid of ethics

Highlights a complete lack of ethical principles guiding the action.

in a dishonest way

Highlights the lack of honesty and integrity.

by any means necessary

Suggests a willingness to use any method, regardless of morality, to achieve a goal.

in a Machiavellian fashion

Alludes to the political philosophy of Niccolò Machiavelli, characterized by cunning and disregard for morality.

exploiting others

Focuses on the act of unfairly taking advantage of others for personal gain.

FAQs

How can I use "unscrupulously" in a sentence?

You can use "unscrupulously" to describe actions that are performed without any moral consideration, such as "He "unscrupulously" pursued his own interests at the expense of others".

What are some alternatives to the word "unscrupulously"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "ruthlessly", "unethically", or "dishonestly" to convey a similar meaning.

What does "unscrupulously" mean?

"Unscrupulously" means acting without moral principles or conscience; doing something dishonestly or unfairly.

Is it correct to say someone acted "unscrupulously"?

Yes, it is correct. "Unscrupulously" is an adverb that modifies a verb, describing how an action was performed. Saying someone acted "unscrupulously" means they acted without regard for ethics or morals.