English Reference

Word

unconscionable

Phoneticsun·con·scionable

US/ənˈkɑnʃənəbəɫ/

UK/ʌnkˈɒnʃənəbəl/

Definition

adj. describing something that is extremely unfair, cruel, or wrong. You use this to talk about actions that go against what is right or just.

adj. morally wrong or wicked; showing a lack of conscience or a disregard for what is right. Often used to describe extreme levels of greed, cruelty, or injustice.

Examples

“The company's unconscionable prices shocked the customers.”

“The judge ruled that the landlord's demand for an unconscionable rent increase was illegal.”

“The treaty was eventually rejected by the public because its terms were seen as unconscionable, stripping the local population of their basic rights without any form of compensation.”

Examples

simple

“The company's unconscionable prices shocked the customers.”

contextual

“The judge ruled that the landlord's demand for an unconscionable rent increase was illegal.”

complex

“The treaty was eventually rejected by the public because its terms were seen as unconscionable, stripping the local population of their basic rights without any form of compensation.”

Real-World Examples

“Environmentalists insist that more drilling would be unconscionable, hampering efforts to cut planet-warming carbon emissions as deadly heatwaves and extreme weather affect billions across the globe.”
BBC News · 3 Sept 2026
“But the notion of a rota of workers trooping into her home was unconscionable; they would be a physical affirmation of her frailty.”
The Guardian · 4 Aug 2026

Etymology

From un- + conscionable.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry

Level
C1 · Advanced
Frequency
Occasional
Updated

Scan code

englishreference.com/q/unconscionable

English Reference