Dictionary

unprincipled en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• /ʌnˈpɹɪnsɪpəld/ (US)
• (US) audio

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *né Proto-Indo-European *n̥- Proto-Germanic *un- Proto-West Germanic *un- Old English un- Middle English un- English un- English principle English -ed English principled English unprincipled From un- + principled.

Meanings

1. Lacking moral values.
   • But side by side with it was a baser conspiracy, among the more unprincipled and desperate friends of James, for the assassination of the King. 1890, James Franck Bright, edited by Rivingtons, A History of England, →ISBN, page 853:
   • That’s what Joe Biden did. His pardon of his son Hunter was understandable from a paternal perspective (what father wants to see his son in prison?), but it was inexcusably unprincipled. 2025 January 23, David French, “Donald Trump Is Running Riot”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 24 Jan 2025:
   • Early in his career, Trump apprenticed himself to Roy Cohn, an unprincipled lawyer who taught the young Trump how to gain wealth and influence through ruthless bullying, profane braggadocio, opportunistic bigotry, baseless lawsuits, lying, and more lying. Yet as Trump’s “fixer” with politicians, judges and mob bosses, Cohn remained utterly loyal to Trump and his father, Fred. 2025 August 25, Robert Reich, “Why Trump built a staff of incompetent sycophants”, in The Guardian, archived from the original on 25 Aug 2025:

Forms

Deriveds

unprincipledly · unprincipledness

Relateds

principle · principled

Synonyms

immoral · licentious

Translations (25)

es inescrupuloso (lacking moral values) · pl bezpodstawny (lacking moral values) · es inmoral (lacking moral values) · fr dénué de principes (lacking moral values) · nb prinsippløs (lacking moral values) · nb prinsipplaus (lacking moral values) · nl beginselloos (lacking moral values) · es de moral relajada (lacking moral values) · es sin escrúpulos (lacking moral values) · es sinvergüenza (lacking moral values) · de gewissenlos (lacking moral values) · ru беспринци́пный (lacking moral values) · es ímprobo (lacking moral values) · nl principeloos (lacking moral values) · da principløs (lacking moral values) · de prinzipienfrei (lacking moral values) · bg безпринципен (lacking moral values) · nl gewetenloos (lacking moral values) · fr amoral (lacking moral values) · fr sans scrupule (lacking moral values) · pl niegodziwy (lacking moral values) · de prinzipienlos (lacking moral values) · it senza scrupoli (lacking moral values) · uk безпринци́пний (lacking moral values) · nn prinsipplaus (lacking moral values)