unwise

B2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ʌnˈwaɪz/ See IPA manual

Freq #19895

Meanings

1

adj
Showing poor judgment; not sensible.

It would be unwise to invest all your savings in one company.
2

adj
Not suitable or sensible for a particular purpose.

Driving in this storm is an unwise choice.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · showing poor judgment; not... foolish imprudent indiscreet injudicious

2 adj · not suitable or sensible... inexpedient

Opposites

wise

Word family

Forms unwisely

Etymology

From Middle English unwis, from Old English unwīs (“unwise, foolish, ignorant, uninformed, insane”), equivalent to un- + wise. Cognate with Dutch onwijs (“unwise”), German unweise (“unwise”), Danish uvis (“unwise”), Swedish ovis (“unwise”), Icelandic óvís (“unwise”).

unwis Middle English unwīs Old English

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Topics

Describing Qualities

External links

# unwise

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /ʌnˈwaɪz/
**Frequency rank:** 19895

## Meanings
1. Showing poor judgment; not sensible.
2. Not suitable or sensible for a particular purpose.

## Examples
- It would be unwise to invest all your savings in one company.
- Driving in this storm is an unwise choice.

## Antonyms
- wise

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: unwis
- Root: unwīs

## Etymology
From Middle English unwis, from Old English unwīs (“unwise, foolish, ignorant, uninformed, insane”), equivalent to un- + wise. Cognate with Dutch onwijs (“unwise”), German unweise (“unwise”), Danish uvis (“unwise”), Swedish ovis (“unwise”), Icelandic óvís (“unwise”).

## AI Etymology
Unwise is from Middle English unwis, from Old English unwīs (“unwise, foolish, ignorant, uninformed, insane”), equivalent to un- + wise. Cognate with Dutch onwijs (“unwise”), German unweise (“unwise”), Danish uvis (“unwise”), Swedish ovis (“unwise”), Icelandic óvís (“unwise”). In present-day use, it can mean showing poor judgment; not sensible, or not suitable or sensible for a particular purpose.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities

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