unhealthy

Meanings

1. 1adjectivecomparable

   Not physically or mentally well; in poor health.

   Grammar: Can be used before a noun or after a linking verb: an unhealthy person; he looks unhealthy.

   Patterns

   • look unhealthy
   • become unhealthy

   He became unhealthy after years of poor diet.

   The unhealthy cat needed to see a vet.

2. 2adjectivecomparable

   Likely to cause illness or harm to health.

   Grammar: Used before a noun: unhealthy food; or after a linking verb: the air is unhealthy.

   Patterns

   • unhealthy food
   • unhealthy habits

   Eating too much unhealthy food can lead to weight gain.

   The unhealthy working conditions made many people sick.

3. 3adjectivecomparable

   Harmful to mental or emotional well-being.

   Grammar: Often used with 'relationship' or 'environment': an unhealthy relationship.

   Patterns

   • unhealthy relationship
   • unhealthy obsession

   Their unhealthy relationship was full of arguments.

   An unhealthy obsession with winning can cause stress.

Word forms

Common combinations

unhealthy diet

An unhealthy diet can lead to heart problems.

unhealthy lifestyle

He decided to change his unhealthy lifestyle.

unhealthy obsession

She had an unhealthy obsession with cleanliness.

unhealthy competition

Unhealthy competition between departments hurt morale.

Synonyms and how they differ

sick

Sick usually describes a person who is ill, while unhealthy can also describe things like food or habits.

harmful

Harmful means causing damage, often to health; unhealthy is more specific to health and well-being.

unfit

Unfit often means not physically fit, while unhealthy can refer to both physical and mental health.

Opposites

Word family

health noun

The condition of your body and mind.

healthily adverb

In a way that is good for your health.

unhealthily adverb

In a way that is bad for your health.

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “unhealthy”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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