1
as in sloppy
lacking neatness in dress or person
a dowdy old matron
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in inappropriate
marked by an obvious lack of style or good taste
the dowdy, beat-up furniture at the cheap motel
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dowdy
Chris Hemsworth, then, almost as good-looking as GNev himself, with his slightly dowdy brother Luke cast as good old Phil.
—
Jack Lang, New York Times, 22 Jan. 2026
Bonus points for Sarah Sherman’s dowdy character, who accidentally got on the Epstein list.
—Rima Parikh, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2025
Once known for dowdy packaging and perhaps questionable tastes or ingredients, the products now compete with national name brands, sparking a shakeup among major food companies.
—Jordan Valinsky, CNN Money, 24 Sep. 2025
Defense leaders have sat on their hands, refusing to acknowledge the need for dowdy, run-of-the-mill tankers.
—Craig Hooper, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dowdy
Jack Lang, New York Times, 22 Jan. 2026
Bonus points for Sarah Sherman’s dowdy character, who accidentally got on the Epstein list.
—Rima Parikh, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2025
Once known for dowdy packaging and perhaps questionable tastes or ingredients, the products now compete with national name brands, sparking a shakeup among major food companies.
—Jordan Valinsky, CNN Money, 24 Sep. 2025
Defense leaders have sat on their hands, refusing to acknowledge the need for dowdy, run-of-the-mill tankers.
—Craig Hooper, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dowdy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dowdy
Adjective
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But the offensive onslaught was equally reflective of a third consecutive sloppy defensive performance from the Sky.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
28 May 2026
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The first half had the feel of watching Jesus’ testimonial, as generous team-mates and sloppy Palace defenders conspired to grant him a series of goalscoring opportunities.—
James McNicholas,
New York Times,
25 May 2026
Adjective
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Padilla saw a study from the United States Public Interest Research Group, where researchers tested three AI toys with a series of inappropriate questions to gauge the guardrails.—
Noelle Harff,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 May 2026
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There are significant worries that AI can readily go off the rails or otherwise dispense unsuitable or even egregiously inappropriate mental health advice.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
Adjective
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Participants with wet but non-wrinkled fingers required significantly more force to maintain the same hold; their hands were working harder to do less.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2026
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Yellowing leaves can indicate overwatering, while wrinkled leaves can point to underwatering.—
Madeline Buiano,
Martha Stewart,
8 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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More to Explore Many of the human props—canes, top hats, desks—used in primate taxidermy became unfashionable in the first half of the nineteenth century, but there were still throwbacks.—
Matthew Wills,
JSTOR Daily,
18 May 2026
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In The Devil Wears Prada 2, Novak stars as the unfashionable businessman Jay Ravitz.—
Jack Smart,
PEOPLE,
6 May 2026
Adjective
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However, despite Fariala’s tight control of the tone and the musical elements, the script remains shaggy and unfocused at times.—
Murtada Elfadl,
Variety,
22 May 2026
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Continue tossing with the fork until the dough is just evenly damp and shaggy, being careful not to overwork the dough too much.—
The New York Times News Service Syndicate,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
20 May 2026
Adjective
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There are significant worries that AI can readily go off the rails or otherwise dispense unsuitable or even egregiously inappropriate mental health advice.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2026
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The trend was further compounded in koalas with chlamydiosis -- a common bacterial disease among the species -- and those found in unsuitable conditions, Mella said.—
Julia Jacobo,
ABC News,
26 May 2026
Adjective
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That shouldn’t happen to anyone, even unkempt cheaters.—
Emma Specter,
Vogue,
27 May 2026
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Djena’s hair was always unkempt.—
Yudhijit Bhattacharjee,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
Adjective
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Flip-flops are widely believed to be a poor pick for arch support—but the Clarks Breeze Sea Sandals prove that notion incorrect.—
Merrell Readman,
Travel + Leisure,
26 May 2026
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In addition to the incorrect name and state, the apology poster’s profile photo bore no resemblance to Crosby’s actual ex-husband.—
James Lasdun,
New Yorker,
26 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dowdy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dowdy. Accessed 3 Jun. 2026.
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