unwise
gb/ʌnwˈaɪz/ us/ʌnwˈaɪz/
B2
English
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B2
property
1
showing poor judgment; not advisable
not a good or sensible idea
Usage pattern:
an unwise [decision/choice/move/investment]; it is unwise to [do something]
Common mistake:
Learners may use unwise to mean “not intelligent.” More often it means “not a good decision” or “not advisable.”
Synonyms
ill-advised (suggests the decision should not be made.)
|
imprudent (more formal; emphasizes lack of caution.)
|
foolish (stronger and more critical in tone.)
|
inadvisable (formal; focuses on what should not be done.)
Antonyms
wise (showing good judgment.)
|
prudent (careful and sensible about risk.)
|
sensible (reasonable and practical.)
Collocations
unwise decision
|unwise choice
|unwise move
|unwise investment
|unwise policy
|unwise to do something
|financially unwise
|politically unwise
|profoundly unwise
|arguably unwise
Themes
decision_making
|risk
|daily_life
Examples
- It was unwise to borrow money without reading the contract.
- Leaving your passport in the car is unwise.
- The report warns that cutting staff now would be unwise.
Learner examples
- It is unwise to spend all your money.
- That was an unwise choice.
adjective
B2
property
2
lacking wisdom or good judgment
not good at making sensible decisions
Usage pattern:
[someone] is unwise (to [do something])
Common mistake:
Often sounds less natural than describing the action: “That was unwise” is more common than “He is unwise.”
Synonyms
short-sighted (emphasizes not thinking about the future.)
|
reckless (stronger; implies taking dangerous risks.)
|
imprudent (more formal; emphasizes lack of caution.)
Antonyms
wise (having and showing good judgment.)
|
thoughtful (carefully considered.)
|
prudent (careful and cautious.)
Collocations
unwise ruler
|unwise leader
|unwise man
|unwise woman
|seem unwise
|prove unwise
|unwise about money
|unwise in retrospect
Themes
people
|behavior
|decision_making
Examples
- He was unwise to trust a stranger with his bank details.
- It would be unwise of her to quit without another job lined up.
- They were young and unwise, but eager to prove themselves.
Learner examples
- He was unwise to drive so fast.
- She was unwise with money.
Grammar
Dictionary form
unwise
IPA
GB/ʌnwˈaɪz/
US/ʌnwˈaɪz/
Syllables & stress
un - wise (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (wise)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: unwise
Expressions
be unwise enough to [do something]
1/bˈi ʌnwˈaɪz ɪnˈʌf tə dˈu sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
be foolish enough to do
to do something very foolish
Examples
- If you’re unwise enough to drive after drinking, you deserve to lose your license.
- He was unwise enough to insult his boss in a meeting.
- Anyone unwise enough to click that link is risking their data.
it would be unwise to [do something]
1/ˈɪt wˈʊd bˈi ʌnwˈaɪz tə dˈu sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
not a good idea to do
you should not do it because it may cause problems
Examples
- It would be unwise to ignore the doctor’s advice.
- It would be unwise to invest money you might need next month.
- It would be unwise to assume the price will stay the same.
unwise in the extreme
1/ʌnwˈaɪz ˈɪn ðə ɪkstɹˈim/
fixed phrase
formal
extremely unwise
very unwise
Examples
- It was unwise in the extreme to publish the names online.
- The committee agreed that the cut would be unwise in the extreme.
- Ignoring the safety report would be unwise in the extreme.