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Also found in: English - Vietnamese

unearned

/'ʌn'ə:nd/
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Definition:

Unearned is an adjective that describes something that has not been gained through hard work, effort, or merit. It usually refers to rewards, income, or criticism that someone has received without deserving it.

Usage Instructions:

You can use "unearned" to describe things like money, praise, or even criticism that someone has not worked for. It often has a negative connotation, implying that the person has not put in the necessary effort to receive what they have.

Examples:
  1. Unearned Rewards: "He received an unearned bonus at work because he didn’t meet his targets."
  2. Unearned Criticism: "She felt the unearned criticism from her peers was unfair since she had worked hard on the project."
  3. Unearned Income: "Some people invest in stocks to generate unearned income rather than working for a salary."
Advanced Usage:

In finance, "unearned income" refers to money earned from investments or assets, rather than from active work. For example, rental income from property can be considered unearned because the landlord does not actively work for that money daily.

Word Variants:
  • Unearnedness (noun): The state of being unearned. For example: "The unearnedness of his wealth made him feel guilty."
  • Earned (antonym): This means something that has been gained through effort or work.
Different Meanings:

While "unearned" primarily refers to things not gained through work, it can also imply a sense of injustice or unfairness, as when someone receives praise or blame they do not deserve.

Synonyms:
  • Unjustified
  • Undeserved
  • Unmerited
  • Unwarranted
Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

While there are no specific idioms or phrasal verbs directly related to "unearned," you can use phrases such as: - "To rest on one's laurels" - This means to rely on past achievements without working hard in the present, which can lead to unearned status in some contexts.

Summary:

In summary, "unearned" describes something received without deserving it, typically in a negative sense. It can relate to income, rewards, or criticism, and is often used to highlight unfairness in situations where effort was not put forth.

Adjective
  1. not gained by merit or labor or service
    • accepted the unearned rewards that came his ways as well as the unearned criticism
    • unearned income
    • an unearned run

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