unscrupulous

Unscrupulous is an adjective used to describe conduct or behavior that is not constrained by ethical or moral considerations. A person, organization, or action described as unscrupulous is willing to disregard fairness, honesty, or the law to achieve a goal.

The word derives from un- meaning not and scruple, a moral or ethical consideration. The form unscrupulous conveys a deliberate absence of scruples, and has been used in English since the early modern period to describe people who act without ethical restraint.

Unscrupulous is commonly applied to business, politics, advertising, or other fields where exploitative tactics and deception are alleged. Phrases such as unscrupulous businessman, unscrupulous lenders, or unscrupulous tactics are common. The adverb form is unscrupulously, as in acting unscrupulously, and the noun unscrupulousness refers to the quality of lacking scruples.

Usage notes: unscrupulous is strongly negative and often carries moral condemnation. It is similar to but not identical with unethical or immoral; unscrupulous emphasizes a specific pattern of conduct lacking in ethical constraint, whereas unethical or immoral describe broader moral judgments. Its usage can imply intentional or calculated wrongdoing.

See also: scruple; scrupulous; unscrupulousness; unethical; immoral.