immoral

[ih-mawr-uhl, ih-mor-]

adjective

1. violating moral principles; not conforming to the patterns of conduct usually accepted or established as consistent with principles of personal and social ethics.

2. licentious or lascivious.

immoral

/ ɪˈmɒrəl /

adjective

1. transgressing accepted moral rules; corrupt

2. sexually dissolute; profligate or promiscuous

3. unscrupulous or unethical

   immoral trading

4. tending to corrupt or resulting from corruption

   an immoral film

   immoral earnings

Other Word Forms

• immorally adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of immoral¹

First recorded in 1650–60; im- ² + moral

Synonym Study

Immoral, abandoned, depraved describe one who makes no attempt to curb self-indulgence. Immoral, referring to conduct, applies to one who acts contrary to or does not obey or conform to standards of morality; it may also mean licentious and perhaps dissipated. Abandoned, referring to condition, applies to one hopelessly, and usually passively, sunk in wickedness and unrestrained appetites. Depraved, referring to character, applies to one who voluntarily seeks evil and viciousness. Immoral, amoral, nonmoral, and unmoral are sometimes confused with one another. Immoral means not moral and connotes evil or licentious behavior. Amoral, nonmoral, and unmoral, virtually synonymous although the first is by far the most common form, mean utterly lacking in morals (either good or bad), neither moral nor immoral. However, since, in some contexts, there is a stigma implicit in a complete lack of morals, being amoral, nonmoral, or unmoral is sometimes considered just as reprehensible as being immoral.

Example Sentences

On Thursday, the current Labor government announced it would settle that claim, and hand an extra $475m over as compensation for the harms caused by the "illegal and immoral Robodebt scheme".

From BBC

Speaking at a news conference near Tampa, Ladapo called mandates “immoral” and compared them to slavery.

From Salon

In reality, clear alternatives were then available, rendering the use of nuclear weapons unnecessary and immoral as well as, given the future nuclearization of the planet, strategically self-defeating.

From Salon

"I think it would have been immoral," she said.

From BBC

“We’re fighting him because what he’s doing is immoral and illegal.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• abandoned 
• debauched 
• lascivious 
• libertine 
• licentious 
• promiscuous