Undue: meaning, definitions and examples

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undue

 

[ʌnˈduː ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Adjective

excessive

not necessary or appropriate; more than is reasonable or expected

Synonyms

excessive, inordinate, unjustified, unwarranted.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
undue

Used when something is more than necessary or inappropriate for the situation.

  • He received undue praise for the project
  • The delay was undue, causing inconvenience
excessive

Used when describing something that is too much or beyond what is reasonable.

  • The noise level was excessive
  • She spent an excessive amount of money on clothes
unwarranted

Refers to actions or feelings that are not justified or authorized and often has a negative connotation.

  • Her fears were unwarranted
  • The accusations were unwarranted and unfair
inordinate

Refers to an amount that is unusually or disproportionately large.

  • He took an inordinate amount of time to finish the task
  • The company faced inordinate expenses
unjustified

Used when something lacks a good reason or basis and often carries a negative connotation.

  • The criticism was unjustified
  • They provided unjustified reasons for the late submission

Examples of usage

  • She was fired for making undue demands on her colleagues.
  • He faced undue pressure from his boss to work overtime.
Context #2 | Adjective

unfair

not fair, right, or acceptable

Synonyms

biased, discriminatory, unfair, unjust.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
undue

Use this word again to describe something that is unnecessary or excessive, often in a negative sense.

  • She showed undue interest in his personal life.
  • The demand caused undue stress for the employees.
unfair

Use this word to describe situations where treatment is not just, not right, or not deserving.

  • It is unfair to blame him for something he didn't do.
  • She was upset about the unfair distribution of resources.
unjust

Use this word to describe actions or situations that are morally wrong or not fair. It can be used with strong emotional undertones.

  • They protested against the unjust laws that oppressed them.
  • Punishing him without listening to his side of the story is unjust.
discriminatory

Use this word when referring to actions or policies that unfairly treat one person or group differently from others. This word generally has a negative connotation.

  • The manager was fired for his discriminatory hiring practices.
  • Discriminatory laws led to widespread protests.
biased

Use this word to refer to a judgment or opinion that is unfairly influenced by personal feelings or opinions.

  • The journalist was accused of being biased in her reporting.
  • He made a biased decision based on his friendship with the candidate.

Examples of usage

  • The judge ruled that the search was conducted under undue influence.
  • She feels that she's been the victim of undue criticism.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

  • The word comes from Middle English, combining 'undue' which means 'not owed' or 'not deserved'.
  • Originally drawn from the Latin word 'inductus', meaning 'unwarranted' or 'not due'.
  • The term has evolved through languages but kept the core meaning of something unwarranted or excessive.

Legal Context

  • In legal situations, something that is described as undue often refers to actions or influences that are inappropriate or not justified.
  • The principle of undue influence is common in contract law, where one party takes advantage of their position over another.
  • Courts often assess whether claims are based on undue pressure when determining the validity of agreements.

Social Issues

  • In discussions about equality, undue discrimination refers to treatment that's excessively unfair based on race, gender, or other characteristics.
  • Undue influence is a recognized concern in relationships, where one person may manipulate another for personal gain.
  • Society often debates what constitutes undue hardship when discussing rights and responsibilities in various contexts.

Psychology

  • The concept of undue anxiety describes feelings that are excessive or disproportionate to a situation.
  • In therapy, addressing undue pressure a person feels can help improve mental well-being.
  • Understanding the impact of undue stress can lead to healthier coping mechanisms and promote resilience.

Cultural Relevance

  • In literature, undue obstacles often lead characters to transformation, highlighting the importance of overcoming excessive challenges.
  • Cinema frequently portrays relationships impacted by undue burdens, emphasizing the tension these create in narratives.
  • In art, discussions about undue distortion can relate to how reality is perceived or presented, impacting audience understanding.

Translations

Translations of the word "undue" in other languages:

🇵🇹 indevido

🇮🇳 अनुचित

🇩🇪 ungerechtfertigt

🇮🇩 tidak wajar

🇺🇦 невиправданий

🇵🇱 nieuzasadniony

🇯🇵 不当な

🇫🇷 indû

🇪🇸 indebido

🇹🇷 haksız

🇰🇷 부당한

🇸🇦 غير مبرر

🇨🇿 neoprávněný

🇸🇰 neoprávnený

🇨🇳 不当的

🇸🇮 neupravičen

🇮🇸 ótilhlýðilegt

🇰🇿 негізсіз

🇬🇪 უადგილო

🇦🇿 haqsız

🇲🇽 indebido

Word Frequency Rank

At #6,652 in frequency, this word belongs to advanced vocabulary. It's less common than core vocabulary but important for sophisticated expression.