Definition

Not strong, solid, or reliable; can refer to physical health, mental health, or logical reasoning.

Example

The argument he made was unsound and did not convince anyone.

Conversation

I heard that some of their claims are actually quite unsound.

Really? That sounds concerning, what do you mean?

Well, they lack proper evidence and seem illogical at best.

That's a red flag for sure; we should be careful about believing them.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Unsound → It is formed from "un-" (meaning not) and "sound" (from Old English "sund", meaning healthy or safe). The word "unsound" means not healthy or not safe, indicating something that is flawed or unreliable.

Memory Tip

Think of 'not' ('un-') being added to 'healthy' or 'safe' ('sound') — that's why unsound means something that is not healthy or reliable.

Visually Confused Words