unsafe
unsafe — adjective
1. exposed to the possibility of being hurt, lost, or damaged, or putting someone i
exposed to the possibility of being hurt, lost, or damaged, or putting someone in that position.
Local officials declared the old bridge unsafe after the storm damaged its steel supports.
passive construction: declared [+ noun] unsafe
Anong felt unsafe walking home alone through the poorly lit alley.
The landlord posted a warning about the kitchen's unsafe gas pipes.
Mateo warned his children that playing near the construction site was unsafe.
Strong currents made the beach unsafe for swimming that summer.
- dangerous
the closest synonym; more focused on inherent capacity to injure or kill, while unsafe emphasises lack of protection or security
- hazardous
more formal and technical, used for specific identifiable risks such as chemicals or work conditions
- risky
emphasises the chance of a negative outcome rather than immediate physical danger; common with financial or strategic decisions
- precarious
suggests instability and threat of sudden collapse, often used for physical positions or financial situations
文法句型
be / feel / become + unsafe
unsafe + for + noun
unsafe + to-infinitive
declare / consider / rule + noun + unsafe
用法筆記
Commonly appears in safety warnings and public notices. The adjective often follows linking verbs such as be, feel, become, or remain. When describing a person's emotional state (e.g., felt unsafe), the focus is on the person's perception of danger rather than an objective condition.
常見錯誤
2. describing a court's ruling against a defendant when the evidence that led to th
describing a court's ruling against a defendant when the evidence that led to that ruling is weak, false, or unreliable, making the ruling untrustworthy.
The appeals court overturned the verdict, ruling the conviction unsafe.
collocation: unsafe conviction / rule [+ noun] unsafe
Karim's lawyer argued that the evidence was too weak to support an unsafe conviction.
The judge called the guilty verdict unsafe and ordered a retrial.
An unsafe conviction can destroy an innocent person's reputation and freedom.
The defendant's lawyers submitted new evidence showing the original conviction was unsafe.
- unreliable
broader term that can apply to evidence, witnesses, or judgments; less specific to formal court decisions
- unsound
suggests the decision has a logical or procedural flaw rather than weak evidence
- questionable
softer and less technical; suggests doubt without necessarily implying the decision is wrong
文法句型
unsafe + conviction / verdict / finding
declare / rule / find + conviction + unsafe
用法筆記
Primarily used in British and Commonwealth legal contexts, especially in appeal cases. In the US legal system, equivalent concepts are expressed through terms such as 'reversible error' or 'insufficient evidence'. The word is almost exclusively paired with conviction, verdict, or finding — never used for laws, contracts, or sentences.