unclean Hear it!

unclean Definition

un·clean (un klēn)

adjective

  1. dirty; filthy; foul
  2. ceremonially impure
  3. morally impure; unchaste, obscene, or vile

Etymology: ME unclene < OE unclæne: see un- + clean

  • uncleaned
unclean Related Forms
un·clean·ness noun
unclean Synonyms

unclean

modif.

soiled, sullied, stained, spotted, filthy, bedraggled, smeared, befouled, nasty, grimy, polluted, rank, unhealthful, defiled, impure, nonkosher, muddy, fetid, feculent, stinking, rotten, vile, decayed, contaminated, tainted, rancid, putrid, putrescent, moldy, musty, mildewed, besmirched, smirched, besmutted, smutted, besmuttered, besmeared, filmed over, bleary, dusty, sooty, smudgy, draffy, scurvy, scurfy, clogged, slimy, mucky, tarnished, murky, smudged, daubed, blurred, begrimed, spattered, bespattered, maggotty, flyblown; see also dirty 1, impure 1.

Antonyms pure*, clean, white.

unclean Usage Examples

Preposition: by

  • body: But " If one that is unclean by a dead body touch any of these, shall it be unclean?

Adjective complement with noun phrase

  • make: All these evils come from inside and make a man unclean.
  • eat: From now on take no wine or strong drink; eat nothing unclean.
  • declare: If it looks deeper than the rest of the skin and its hair has turned white, the priest must declare the person unclean.

Modifies a noun

  • lip: Isaiah laments the fact that he is a man of unclean lips.
  • spirit: They say he has an " unclean spirit " which hitherto has meant an opponent.
  • animal: There would not have been unclean animals had Adam not brought the earth under the curse in the first place.
  • meat: On the plus side however they may eat unclean meat ( Dt.
  • thing: The unclean things in the world are merely the product of the overflow of the sewer of the human being.
  • bird: Abram had kept watch by the Victims, driving away the unclean birds which would have come down upon them.

Modifying Another Word

  • ritually: Being ritually unclean meant that she would have been unable to take part in public worship.
  • ceremonially: Under the OT Law a woman was declared ceremonially unclean during menstruation.
  • spiritually: So unclean food could basically make someone spiritually unclean.
  • often: The people of the Middle Ages enjoyed to drink, and as water was often unclean, it was a necessity.
  • very: The Bible teaches that we are unclean - very unclean.

Used with adjective complement

  • consider: She could not touch another person for she was considered unclean.
  • remain: As long as you are under the control of your nafs you remain unclean.
  • feel: There is a part of me that now feels unclean.
  • make: People are made unclean by the things that come out of them.
unclean Quotes

But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, likethe wind, havetaken us away.

—Bible (Old Testament)

Then said I,Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for mine eyes have seen the King, the L of hosts. Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: And he laid it upon my 102 mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged. Also I heard thevoiceoftheLord,saying,Whomshall Isend, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.

—Bible (Old Testament)

And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools shall not err therein.

—Bible (Old Testament)

Browse dictionary entries near unclean

  1. Uncle Tom
  2. Uncle Sam
  3. uncle
  4. unclassified
  5. unclasp
  6. unclad
  7. uncivilized
  8. uncivil
  9. uncircumcision
  10. uncircumcised
  1. unclean hands
  2. uncleanly
  3. unclench
  4. uncloak
  5. unclose
  6. unclothe
  7. unco
  8. uncoil
  9. uncollected funds
  10. uncomfortable