Groundlessly
Groundlessly, an adverb, describes something done or believed without any valid or justifiable basis; it indicates a lack of evidence, reason, or factual support. It suggests that a claim, accusation, suspicion, or action is made or taken arbitrarily, driven by prejudice, misinformation, speculation, or mere whim rather than reliable information. The action or belief is unfounded, baseless, and potentially unfair or damaging to its subject. It often implies an illogical leap to a conclusion or action based on nothing substantial. When something is described as being done groundlessly, it is essentially being deemed unjustified and lacking proper foundation. The word emphasizes the absence of any legitimate reason or supporting evidence for the behavior or the belief. The word suggests a degree of recklessness in judgement or conduct.
Groundlessly meaning with examples
- The detective groundlessly accused several innocent people of the crime, causing immense stress and upheaval within the community. His accusations, based only on flimsy gossip, were later proven to be false, leading to public criticism of his methods and a formal apology.
- She was fired groundlessly after a new manager was hired, with the company claiming it was for downsizing, but in reality, because they wanted to replace her with someone younger who cost less. The firing was unethical and left her without income.
- The rumor spread groundlessly, quickly gaining traction among the students. It caused significant damage to his reputation, as people began avoiding him based on assumptions rather than facts. He eventually had to address the rumour openly.
- Despite offering clear proof of his innocence, the suspect was held for questioning groundlessly based on racial profiling, making this process very traumatizing. The arrest caused him to miss work and upset his family; this injustice cost him everything.