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unhealthful
adjective
un·health·ful
ˌən-ˈhelth-fəl
also -ˈheltth-
: harmful to health of body or mind : unhealthy sense 1
unhealthful levels of water pollution
an unhealthful diet
an unhealthful tendency to worry
Synonyms
Examples of unhealthful in a Sentence
the unhealthful level of smog in the city
Recent Examples on the Web
In Los Angeles County, however, residents should avoid the water at certain coastal locations because the bacterial levels reached unhealthful levels when last tested, according to an L.A. County Department of Public Health news release.
—Summer Lin, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2024
After the salt flats became a source of unhealthful dust pollution, the city was ordered to control the problem.
—Louis Sahagún, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2024
Air quality officials are monitoring for unhealthful particulates.
—Salvador Hernandez, Los Angeles Times, 30 Dec. 2023
The South Coast Air Quality Management District has also seen the unhealthful trend.
—Salvador Hernandez, Los Angeles Times, 30 Dec. 2023
Increased Alcohol and Tobacco Use A late-night lifestyle often goes hand-in-hand with other unhealthful behaviors.
—Amanda MacMillan, Health, 3 Sep. 2023
Hypertension can also be caused by lifestyle patterns, such as unhealthful eating or lack of exercise.
—Amanda MacMillan, Health, 3 Sep. 2023
Meanwhile, air in parts of the San Gabriel Valley remained unhealthful, and a swath of the Southland from downtown L.A. to the Inland Empire still had air quality that was considered unhealthful for sensitive groups.
—Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2023
Air quality monitors from Pasadena to Long Beach recorded unhealthful levels right around 10 p.m. Tuesday after measuring in mostly healthful levels for most of the day, according to the U.S. Air Quality Index.
—Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'unhealthful.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1580, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near unhealthful
Cite this Entry
“Unhealthful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unhealthful. Accessed 4 Jun. 2024.
Kids Definition
unhealthful
adjective
un·health·ful
ˌən-ˈhelth-fəl
Medical Definition
unhealthful
adjective
un·health·ful
-ˈhelth-fəl
: detrimental to good health
unhealthful working conditions
unhealthfulness
noun
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