unsifted

A journalist reports unsifted information from the field.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Not passed through a sieve: "unsifted" describes a substance, typically flour or other dry ingredients, that has not been processed through a sieve to remove lumps or aerate it.
   • Not carefully examined or refined: In a figurative sense, "unsifted" refers to information, ideas, or people that have not been scrutinized, filtered, or evaluated for quality or accuracy.

Usage Examples

• Literal:

  • The recipe requires unsifted flour for a denser texture. (Flour that has not been passed through a sieve, used intentionally to avoid adding air.)
  • She poured the unsifted sand into the bucket, leaving small pebbles mixed in. (Sand that has not been filtered to remove coarse particles.)

• Figurative:

  • His argument was based on unsifted data, leading to unreliable conclusions. (Information that has not been carefully examined or verified.)
  • The committee rejected the unsifted applications, preferring to review only pre-screened candidates. (Candidates who have not been evaluated or filtered for suitability.)

Advanced Usage

• "unsifted masses": a literary or rhetorical phrase referring to a large group of people who have not been selected or organized.

  • The politician appealed to the unsifted masses, hoping to gain support from all social levels. (The general populace, without any sorting by status or opinion.)

• "unsifted evidence": in legal or academic contexts, evidence that has not been reviewed for relevance or reliability.

  • The lawyer objected to the unsifted evidence, arguing it was prejudicial. (Evidence not filtered for admissibility.)

Variants and Related Words

• Sift (verb): to pass through a sieve; to examine carefully.

  • She will sift the flour before baking. (She will remove lumps by passing it through a sieve.)

• Sifter (noun): a device used for sifting.

  • He used a sifter to aerate the cocoa powder. (A tool with a mesh screen for filtering.)

• Sifted (adjective): having been passed through a sieve or carefully examined.

  • The sifted flour was light and fluffy. (Flour processed through a sieve.)

Synonyms

• Unfiltered: not passed through a filter; not subjected to scrutiny.

  • The unfiltered water contained sediment. (Water not cleaned through a filter.)

• Unrefined: in a raw or natural state; not processed or purified.

  • The unrefined sugar had a brown color. (Sugar not processed to remove impurities.)

• Unvetted: not examined or checked for suitability.

  • The unvetted guest was asked to leave. (A person not screened before entry.)

Related Idioms

• "Not sifted through": a phrase meaning not carefully examined.

  • The reports were not sifted through before publication, causing errors. (The reports were not reviewed thoroughly.)

• "Unsifted truth": a rare idiom meaning truth that has not been refined or made palatable.

  • He spoke the unsifted truth, harsh and unvarnished. (The truth presented without softening or filtering.)