zedenloos

Zedenloos is a Dutch adjective meaning without morals or virtue; it denotes a lack of ethical standards in a person or action. The term is typically used to describe conduct that flagrantly violates social norms of decency and propriety, or to condemn acts viewed as utterly immoral.

Etymology and usage: zedenloos is formed from zeden (morals, ethics) and the suffix loos (without). The -loos suffix is productive in Dutch to indicate absence. The word is of native Germanic origin and has appeared in Dutch texts since the early modern period. In contemporary language, zedenloos is more common in literary, journalistic, or moralizing contexts, where it functions as a strong evaluative label.

Nuance and scope: zedenloos can refer to individuals, acts, or situations deemed to lack fundamental decency. It is a value-laden term and thus is often used with a condemnatory tone. While it can appear in legal or historical writing, its use tends to convey judgment rather than objective description, and writers may choose more precise or neutral expressions in formal contexts. Related terms include zeden (morals), zedelijk (moral or decent), onzedelijk (indecent), and amoraal (amoral).

See also: zeden, zedelijk, onzedelijk, amoraal.