What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
nonwarranted
Example
The company's decision to lay off employees was nonwarranted and caused a lot of backlash. [nonwarranted: adjective]
Example
He made a nonwarranted assumption about her intentions without any evidence. [nonwarranted: adjective]
unwarranted
Example
The teacher's accusation of cheating was unwarranted and caused unnecessary stress for the student. [unwarranted: adjective]
Example
His unwarranted criticism of her work was unfair and demotivating. [unwarranted: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Unwarranted is more commonly used than nonwarranted in everyday language. Unwarranted is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while nonwarranted is less common and may be considered more technical or formal.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between nonwarranted and unwarranted?
Both nonwarranted and unwarranted can be used in formal and informal contexts, but nonwarranted may be considered more technical or specialized due to its less common usage.