Word
unduly
Phoneticsun·du·ly, stress on the second syllable
US/ənˈduɫi/
UK/ʌndjˈuːli/
Definition
adv. in a way that is too much or not fair. You use this when someone is being too strict or when a situation is more serious than it should be.
adv. to an excessive or unreasonable degree; in a manner that is not justified or fair.
Examples
“The judge decided the punishment was unduly harsh.”
“The committee felt the new rules were unduly restrictive and would prevent small businesses from competing.”
“The legal team argued that the evidence was unduly prejudicial and should be excluded from the trial to ensure a fair verdict.”
Examples
simple
“The judge decided the punishment was unduly harsh.”
contextual
“The committee felt the new rules were unduly restrictive and would prevent small businesses from competing.”
complex
“The legal team argued that the evidence was unduly prejudicial and should be excluded from the trial to ensure a fair verdict.”
Real-World Examples
“The teenager's quarter-final defeat to Jonny Clayton ended Littler's quest for the clean sweep, but the Warrington native clearly felt fans had been unduly harsh towards him.” “This would guard against the perception of any one party being unduly influenced or swayed by one person or organisation.” Etymology
From undue + -ly or un- + duly.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
ADVERB
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/unduly