1
as in messy
lacking in order, neatness, and often cleanliness
an unkempt and cluttered room
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2
as in sloppy
lacking neatness in dress or person
the stereotype of the unkempt but brilliant scientist
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Recent Examples of unkempt
Wallace’s bob was poker-straight, whereas Emily’s unkempt, messy waves boast plenty of texture.
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Alice Cary, Vogue, 3 Feb. 2023
Armed patrols man the streets, where unkempt survivors take jobs burning the dead and cleaning up waste to scrape by.
—Randall Colburn, EW.com, 16 Jan. 2023
Oh, there's the unkempt west side near Red Bank Avenue, known as the Thickets, where those seeking or selling drugs can sometimes be found after dark, and where there's the occasional mugging, but the Thickets is only three acres of 740.
—Clark Collis, EW.com, 23 Jan. 2023
His unkempt bedroom is nearly a deal-breaker, as are his clumsy attempts at foreplay.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 21 Jan. 2023
See all Example Sentences for unkempt 
Alice Cary, Vogue, 3 Feb. 2023
Armed patrols man the streets, where unkempt survivors take jobs burning the dead and cleaning up waste to scrape by.
—Randall Colburn, EW.com, 16 Jan. 2023
Oh, there's the unkempt west side near Red Bank Avenue, known as the Thickets, where those seeking or selling drugs can sometimes be found after dark, and where there's the occasional mugging, but the Thickets is only three acres of 740.
—Clark Collis, EW.com, 23 Jan. 2023
His unkempt bedroom is nearly a deal-breaker, as are his clumsy attempts at foreplay.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 21 Jan. 2023
See all Example Sentences for unkempt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unkempt
Adjective
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Their divorce has been messy, with both exes calling each other out via Instagram.Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 13 Dec. 2024
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The decision worked smoothly for the AAC in Year 1 of this new setup, but the potential for a messy schedule remains in the future.Matt Weyrich, Baltimore Sun, 13 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Dollar General also has paid millions of dollars of fines for sloppy stores and blocked fire exits that became both workplace safety hazards and potential turnoffs for its shoppers.Melissa Repko, NBC News, 5 Dec. 2024
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In a sloppy game that included 21 penalties between the teams, the Bears got in the end zone just once — their only offensive touchdown of the first two weeks.Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 30 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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This chaotic style is reminiscent of the Paris-Nicole-Lindsay glory days of Y2K—which, in a way, have resurged thanks to Charli XCX’s Brat summer (and now fall).Christopher Rosa, Glamour, 2 Dec. 2024
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In its darkest corners, demons dwell, wreaking havoc with their masks of chaotic power.Erik Kain, Forbes, 1 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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This might be a shaggy turkey story, but bear with us.Domenico Montanaro, NPR, 25 Nov. 2024
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The event was presided over by Shealy himself, who was never far from his big, shaggy brown dog, Buster, or his girlfriend, Debbie Fields, the founder of Mrs. Fields Bakeries.Brienne Walsh, Forbes, 25 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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They were packed in the ships’ holds in filthy conditions reminiscent of their initial arrival in North America, their prospects of freedom largely unchanged by the war.Kinsey Gidick, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Dec. 2024
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Don't let a little plumbing snafu make your dishwasher filthy.Jessica Farthing, Southern Living, 8 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Eagle-eyed social media users had spotted the editing over the untidy suits of the country’s top officials.Arata Yamamoto, NBC News, 7 Oct. 2024
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Palermo is as untidy as life and as temperamental as a Sicilian lover.Stanley Stewart, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 July 2024
Adjective
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The headlines are still coming thick and fast, pushing advice on a user base now equal parts concerned and confused.Zak Doffman, Forbes, 15 Dec. 2024
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Befuddling sales processes, complex product offerings, and a lack of business transparency have left people feeling more confused than protected in outdated models that don't empower consumers to choose for themselves.Tyler Shepherd, USA TODAY, 14 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Corruption within the organization, after all, is as much a part of the show as Jackson Lamb’s slovenly habits and horrible diet.Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2024
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To them, flame is slovenly, backward, even atavistic, tolerable only when used for ceremonial purposes.Stephen Pyne, Scientific American, 16 Apr. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Unkempt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unkempt. Accessed 19 Dec. 2024.
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