Unwarranted
Adjective
Definition: Not justified or authorized.
Synonyms: Unjustified, Unsupported, Groundless
Antonyms: Justified, Warranted, Legitimate
- His unwarranted claims led to his loss of credibility.
- The teacher's punishment seemed unwarranted, considering the minor offense committed.
- Think of "un-" as a prefix meaning not, and "warranted" as implying something that is deserving or supported. Therefore, "unwarranted" means not deserving or unsupported.
Etymology:
The word "unwarranted" originated in the mid-17th century from the combination of "un-" (meaning not) and "warranted" (meaning justified or authorized). It draws its roots from the Old French "garantir" which means to guarantee or vouch for.
Historical Usage:The word has been used consistently since its origin, maintaining its meaning of something not justified or authorized.
Related Idioms:
"Unwarranted assumption"
Explanation:Refers to a baseless or unsupported belief or conclusion that is made without proper justification or evidence.
Misconceptions:
Confusing "unwarranted" with "unwanted."
Explanation:"Unwarranted" refers to something that is not justified or authorized, while "unwanted" refers to something that is not desired or not wanted. These two words have different meanings and should not be interchanged.