Word: Unsupported
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: "Unsupported" means something that is not held up or backed by anything. It can refer to physical objects that need support, or to ideas, claims, or accusations that don’t have evidence or proof backing them up.
Physical Meaning: If a structure, like a roof, does not have a strong support, it is "unsupported." For example, if a central post that holds up a roof is removed, the roof is unsupported and may fall.
Figurative Meaning: If someone makes a claim or accusation without any proof or evidence, it is called "unsupported." For instance, if someone says a person is not trustworthy but doesn’t provide any reasons or evidence, that accusation is unsupported.
In more advanced contexts, "unsupported" can be used in academic or legal discussions to describe arguments or assertions that lack sufficient evidence or backing. For example, "The research findings were deemed unsupported due to a lack of data."
While "unsupported" primarily refers to a lack of support, it can also imply a sense of abandonment or neglect in certain contexts, such as in emotional or social situations.
There are no direct idioms using "unsupported," but you might hear phrases like "without a leg to stand on," which means to have no support for an argument or claim.
There aren't specific phrasal verbs that use "unsupported," but you can combine "support" with other words in phrases like "back up" (to provide evidence for a claim) or "lean on" (to rely on someone for support).