What does inadvisable mean?
Inadvisable means that a particular action, decision, or course of conduct is not sensible or advisable. It is used when there are good reasons to believe that something should be avoided, whether because of unnecessary risk, poor timing, lack of preparation, or foreseeable consequences. The word is common in formal writing and professional discussion, but it can also occur in ordinary conversation when someone wants to give a strong warning. For example, a doctor might describe beginning an strenuous exercise immediately after eating as inadvisable, while a manager might advise against resigning without having another position lined up. Compared with the simpler word unwise, inadvisable suggests a specific course of conduct that is considered poorly judged or inappropriate. It is commonly modified by words such as highly and can be followed by an infinitive introduced by “to,” as in “It is inadvisable to travel during the storm.”
adjectiveNot advisable; unwise or inappropriate to do or choose.
- Unwise or inappropriate; not recommended.
"It would be inadvisable to ignore the warnings."
"Starting a long journey with an almost empty fuel tank was inadvisable."
"The committee cautioned that abandoning the project at this stage would be inadvisable."
Sometimes the wisest decision is the one you decide not to make.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does inadvisable come from?
The word is formed from the prefix in-, meaning “not,” and advisable, which means “worth recommending” or “sensible.” Advisable comes through French and ultimately from Latin, where the stem relates to advising and giving counsel; the Latin element is shared with advice, advise, and advisory. The negative form became established in English to express conduct that should be avoided because it is imprudent or inappropriate.
Related word forms
How inadvisable is actually used
Common in formal and professional contexts. It is often stronger and more deliberate than simply saying that something is bad or unwise.
Easily confused with inadvisable
Advisable means sensible or wise to choose, whereas inadvisable means the opposite.