unclean

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

A longstanding taboo in Chinese culture against used goods, seen as unclean or a shameful sign of poverty, is lifting rapidly.

From Barron's • Mar. 4, 2026

“It’s the tragic result of a system failing to meet the most basic duty of care,” Padilla said in a statement, citing reports of mold in food, unclean drinking water and barriers to medical care.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 18, 2026

Of course, eating with one’s hands isn’t some careless or unclean impulse — it’s a practiced tradition that spans continents, centuries and entire systems of thought.

From Salon • Jul. 3, 2025

If you come to a court with unclean hands, you forfeit your right to claim this kind of emergency relief.

From Slate • Jun. 24, 2025

French jams, English marmalades, an unclean butter dish, bottles of ketchup and Lea & Perrins circled past, before what the Object wanted: an economy-size jar of Rolaids.

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides