Dictionary

unconscionable en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• /ˌənˈkɑn(t)ʃ(ə)nəbəl/ (US)
• /ʌnˈkɒn.ʃən.ə.bəl/ (UK)
• /ənˈkɔn.ʃən.ə.bəl/ (Australia)
• /ənˈkɔnʃ.nə.bəl/ (Australia)
• /ʌnˈkɒn.ʃən.bəl/ (UK)
• (Southern-England) audio
• /ənˈkɔn.ʃən.bəl/ (Australia)

Etymology

From un- + conscionable.

Meanings

1. Not conscionable; unscrupulous and lacking principles or conscience.
   • In a statement on Friday announcing her withdrawal, [Arundhati] Roy, who had been planning to attend a screening of her recently restored 1989 film In Which Annie Gives it Those Ones, called the comments “unconscionable” and feared they had reached “millions of people across the world”. 2026 February 13, Nadia Khomami, quoting Arundhati Roy, “Arundhati Roy quits Berlin film festival over ‘stay out of politics’ comment”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:
   • When Roger assured him that prospects "looked very good" for a retrial, even a reversal of the verdict, since Roger had discovered "unconscionable errors" in the trial, Jackson grunted in bemusement and smiled with half his mouth. 2001, Joyce Carol Oates, Middle Age: A Romance, paperback edition, Fourth Estate, page 364:
2. Excessive, imprudent or unreasonable.
   • [...] and the agrieved person shall doe more manly, to be extraordinary and singular in claiming the due right whereof he is frustrated, then to piece up his lost contentment by visiting the Stews, or stepping to his neighbours bed, which is the common shift in this mis-fortune, or els by suffering his usefull life to wast away and be lost under a secret affliction of an unconscionable size to humane strength. 1643, John Milton, Doctrine and Discipline of Divorce:
   • He amazed the pretty hostess by refusing breakfast; however, flinging down double the amount of her already unconscionable bill, consoled her for his want of appetite. 1837, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], “The Past”, in Ethel Churchill: Or, The Two Brides. […], volume II, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, page 84:
   • The effective rate of interest was unconscionable, but not legally usurious.

Forms

Antonyms

ethical · conscionable · reasonable · fair

Deriveds

unconscionably

Relateds

conscience

Synonyms

unethical · shocking · outrageous · egregious · immoral · excessive

Translations (30)

it senza scrupoli (not conscionable; unscrupulous) · tr vicdansız (not conscionable; unscrupulous) · nl onbillijk (not conscionable; unscrupulous) · nb samvittighetsløs (not conscionable; unscrupulous) · de unverhältnismäßig (excessive) · fi omantunnon vastainen (not conscionable; unscrupulous) · el παράλογος (not conscionable; unscrupulous) · tr insafsız (not conscionable; unscrupulous) · nl gewetenloos (not conscionable; unscrupulous) · es inescrupuloso (not conscionable; unscrupulous) · de unverschämt (excessive) · de unverschämt (not conscionable; unscrupulous) · nl overdreven (excessive) · bg прекомерен (excessive) · fr déraisonnable (excessive) · de skrupellos (not conscionable; unscrupulous) · nl excessief (excessive) · ru бессо́вестный (not conscionable; unscrupulous) · tr mantıksız (not conscionable; unscrupulous) · bg безсъвестен (not conscionable; unscrupulous) · de gewissenlos (not conscionable; unscrupulous) · fi kohtuuton (excessive) · sv omåttlig (excessive) · fi hillitön (excessive) · pt inescrupuloso (not conscionable; unscrupulous) · fr sans scrupules (not conscionable; unscrupulous) · bg неумерен (excessive) · el ασυνείδητος (not conscionable; unscrupulous) · nb skruppelløs (not conscionable; unscrupulous) · sv överdriven (excessive)