unconscionable
unconscionable
Pronunciation
Here's the IPA phonetic spelling of "unconscionable" for both American and British English, along with a breakdown of the sounds in each syllable:
American English (multiple pronunciations):
/ʌnˈkɑn.ʃən.ə.bəl/
/ʌnˈkɑnʃ.nə.bəl/
/ʌnˈkɔn.ʃən.ə.bəl/
Syllable breakdown:
un /ʌn/: Short "u" sound like in "but"
con /kɑn/ or /kɔn/: "k" sound followed by either a short "a" like in "cat" or a short "o" sound like in "bought" (depending on dialect)
sci /ʃən/: "sh" sound followed by "uh" sound
British English (multiple pronunciations):
/ʌnˈkɒn.ʃən.ə.bəl/
/ʌnˈkɒnʃ.nə.bəl/
Syllable breakdown:
un /ʌn/: Short "u" sound like in "but"
con /kɒn/: "k" sound followed by a short "o" sound like in "bought"
sci /ʃən/: "sh" sound followed by "uh" sound
Word Form Variations
"Unconscionable" itself already functions as the singular adjective. There are no plural or other verb forms of "unconscionable."
However, there are related word forms that might be useful depending on the context:
Adverb: Unconscionably (describes how something is done) - "He acted unconscionably by taking advantage of their situation."
Noun: Unconscionability/Unconscionableness (less common, refers to the quality of being unconscionable) - "The court found unconscionability in the contract terms."
These variations allow you to express the concept of "unconscionable" in different grammatical roles within a sentence.
Definitions, Synonyms, Antonyms
Part of Speech: Adjective
Definition 1: So unfair, unjust, or unreasonable that it shocks the conscience. (Common in general usage)
Synonyms: Outrageous, egregious, excessive, exorbitant, reprehensible, amoral, unethical
Antonyms: Reasonable, fair, just, equitable, moral, ethical
Definition 2: Lacking a conscience; unscrupulous. (Less common outside legal contexts)
Synonyms: Unprincipled, villainous, depraved, reprobate
Antonyms: Conscientious, moral, ethical, scrupulous
Part of Speech: Adverb
Definition: In a way that is unconscionable.
Synonyms: Outrageously, egregiously, excessively, unfairly, unjustly
Antonyms: Reasonably, fairly, justly, ethically
Part of Speech: Noun (Less common)
Definition: The quality of being unconscionable.
Synonyms: Unfairness, injustice, excessiveness, outrageousness, amorality
Antonyms: Reasonableness, fairness, justice, equity, morality
Examples of Use
Books:
"It was unconscionable of him to abandon his family without a word." (J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire)
2. Newspapers:
"The landlord's demand for a tripling of rent was deemed unconscionable by the housing authority." (Hypothetical news article)
3. Online Publications:
"A consumer advocacy group is calling out the practice of hidden fees in online subscriptions as unconscionable." (Hypothetical blog post)
4. Entertainment Mediums:
In a legal drama TV show, a lawyer argues, "The contract terms are so one-sided, they border on the unconscionable!"
5. Public Discourse:
"Politicians are debating the ethics of campaign finance, with some arguing that the current system allows for unconscionable spending by wealthy donors." (Social media discussion)
6. Legal Context:
"The judge ruled that the late payment penalties in the credit card agreement were unconscionable and unenforceable." (Court case document)
10 Famous Quotes Using the term Unconscionable
While "unconscionable" is a powerful word, it's not as common in famous quotes as you might expect. Here are some quotes that capture a similar sentiment, along with the original wording:
"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." - Edmund Burke (paraphrased - original uses "wicked")
"The uses of adversity are sweet, which, like the toad, ugly and venomous, wears yet a precious jewel in his head." - William Shakespeare (original uses "adversity")
"That government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth." - Abraham Lincoln (original uses "perish")
"The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing." - Socrates (original uses "true wisdom")
"The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall." - Nelson Mandela (original uses "greatest glory")
"The superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions." - Confucius (original uses "superior man")
"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." - George Santayana (original uses "condemned")
"The unexamined life is not worth living." - Socrates (original uses "unexamined life")
"Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul, and sings the tune without the words, and never stops at all." - Emily Dickinson (original uses "cruel")
"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." - Franklin D. Roosevelt (original uses "dreadful")
Etymology
Etymology is basically the detective work behind words! It's figuring out where a word came from and how its meaning changed over time.
The word "etymology" itself has a pretty straightforward history. It comes from the Greek word "etymon," which means "true sense" or "origin of a word." That Greek word itself comes from "etymos," meaning "true." So, the whole idea behind etymology is finding the true origin and meaning of a word.
The first time "etymology" was used in English was around the year 1615. Back then, it meant exactly what it does today – tracing a word's history.
Phrases + Idioms Containing the term Unconscionable
There actually aren't many phrases or idioms that directly use the word "etymology" itself. Etymology is a field of study, so it's more likely to be used in a sentence describing that study, like "She is fascinated by the etymology of slang words."
Here are some alternatives that capture the essence of etymology:
Word origin: This simply means where a word comes from.
Root of a word: This refers to the core part of a word that carries its basic meaning.
Trace the history of a word: This describes the process of following a word's development over time.
Folk etymology: This is an interesting phenomenon where people create a new origin story for a word, even if it's not historically accurate.
Posts Related to Unconscionable
Source Information
Definition of unconscionable from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.