unsubstantiated

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "unsubstantiated" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe a claim or assertion that lacks evidence or support. Example: "The allegations made against the company were deemed unsubstantiated and therefore dismissed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Several Tatar activists have also been arrested on charges that the Crimean Field Mission on Human Rights has called unsubstantiated.

The Guardian

As it is, the Opt Out website contains no information beyond vague and unsubstantiated claims about Obamacare being a "bad deal", and two embarrassingly poorly made ads featuring a "Creepy Uncle Sam" character who pops up between a woman's legs as she undergoes a gynaecological exam and asks a young man to roll over while he pulls on a surgical glove.

The Guardian - Opinion

Will As you may know, I was civil service trained and, as such, told to stick to the issues, however "strangely abstract" (in your words) they may be, and never indulge in wild and unsubstantiated personal comment, however enticing that may be.

The Guardian - Opinion

The renegotiation we're asked to follow – then vote on – currently consists of no stated objectives trawled through dozens of bilateral meetings around the continent, all yielding unsubstantiated briefings on or off the record that could be (a) true or (b) the precise reverse of truth, as the great game called diplomacy lugubriously unwinds.

The Guardian

A Royal Navy spokeswoman said on Monday that the service disagreed with McNeilly's assessment, describing the report as containing "a number of subjective and unsubstantiated personal views".

The Guardian

So while we don't know who is going to win the vote today, it seems safe to conclude that Malawians will get the leader they choose (notwithstanding a few vague, as yet unsubstantiated accusations of vote-rigging).

The Guardian

The system, Wadsworth says, is already inherently unfair, often providing a platform for unsubstantiated gripes or preserving complaints about problems that have long since been addressed.

The Guardian - Tech

This was a clear interference in the legal investigation and an unsubstantiated claim and thus needed to be corrected.Freedom of speech is not a freedom to defame.

The Economist

The contrasting cases of James Kilts and Michael Eisner make the point.Mr Kilts, the boss of Gillette, has publicly accused critics of the $165m he was paid after selling his firm to Procter & Gamble for $53 billion of "unsubstantiated, inaccurate and irresponsible criticism" and of treating him like a "piñata"—a sweet container that American children bash at parties.

The Economist

The current disarray in the wider region, the author notes, may offer Egyptians a chance to resume their historic role as cultural and political trendsetters.This does seem rather a vague palliative, however, and Mr Osman's occasional resort to unsubstantiated facts and dangling assertions does not help his argument.

The Economist

Lexington should avoid such unsubstantiated ad hominem attacks, lest his readers see him for what he is: a stupid bastard.David Williams Sodegaura Japan.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Replace "unsubstantiated" with stronger verbs like 'refuted', 'disproven', or 'debunked' if you want to emphasize the falsehood of the initial claim instead of merely highlighting its lack of evidence.

Common error

Do not use "unsubstantiated" as a blanket dismissal without specifying the exact reasons why the claim lacks support. Always clarify the specific deficiencies or missing evidence.

Linguistic Context

The term "unsubstantiated" primarily functions as an adjective. It is used to describe nouns (typically claims, allegations, or reports) that lack sufficient evidence or support. Ludwig examples confirm its role in qualifying information lacking validation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "unsubstantiated" is an adjective used to describe claims or allegations lacking evidence. Ludwig AI confirms that it is grammatically correct and frequently used in news, media, and formal business contexts. While alternatives like "unverified" or "baseless" exist, "unsubstantiated" provides a nuanced way of indicating that a claim hasn't been adequately supported. When employing this term, provide clear context regarding the specifics of the claim and the missing evidence to avoid generalizations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unverified

Focuses on the lack of confirmation or validation.

uncorroborated

Highlights the absence of supporting evidence from other sources.

unconfirmed

Emphasizes that the information has not been officially confirmed.

unproven

Suggests that the claim has not been demonstrated to be true.

baseless

Indicates that the claim has no foundation or basis in fact.

groundless

Similar to 'baseless', emphasizing the lack of factual support.

unfounded

Implies that the claim is not based on any reliable information.

unsupported

Focuses on the lack of evidence to back up the claim.

speculative

Suggests that the claim is based on conjecture rather than evidence.

tenuous

Implies the evidence is weak and unconvincing

FAQs

How to use "unsubstantiated" in a sentence?

You can use "unsubstantiated" to describe claims, allegations, or rumors that lack evidence. For example, "The allegations made against him were "unsubstantiated" and therefore dismissed."

What can I say instead of "unsubstantiated"?

You can use alternatives like "unverified", "uncorroborated", or "baseless" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "unsubstantiated claim" or "unsubstantiated evidence"?

"Unsubstantiated claim" is the more common and grammatically sound phrase. Evidence, by definition, should be supportive; if it's not, it's generally considered lacking or irrelevant rather than "unsubstantiated".

What's the difference between "unsubstantiated" and "unproven"?

"Unsubstantiated" means lacking evidence to support a claim, while "unproven" means the claim hasn't been demonstrated to be true. "Unsubstantiated" suggests a lack of initial support, whereas "unproven" indicates a failure to establish truth.