unseemly 1 of 2

unseemly

2 of 2

adverb

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective unseemly differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of unseemly are improper, indecorous, indelicate, and unbecoming. While all these words mean "not conforming to what is accepted as right, fitting, or in good taste," unseemly adds a suggestion of special inappropriateness to a situation or an offensiveness to good taste.

remarried with unseemly haste

When could improper be used to replace unseemly?

In some situations, the words improper and unseemly are roughly equivalent. However, improper applies to a broader range of transgressions of rules not only of social behavior but of ethical practice or logical procedure or prescribed method.

improper use of campaign contributions

When can indecorous be used instead of unseemly?

While in some cases nearly identical to unseemly, indecorous suggests a violation of accepted standards of good manners.

indecorous behavior

When would indelicate be a good substitute for unseemly?

The synonyms indelicate and unseemly are sometimes interchangeable, but indelicate implies a lack of modesty or of tact or of refined perception of feeling.

indelicate expressions for bodily functions

When is it sensible to use unbecoming instead of unseemly?

While the synonyms unbecoming and unseemly are close in meaning, unbecoming suggests behavior or language that does not suit one's character or status.

conduct unbecoming to an officer

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of unseemly
Adjective
The Friday dismissal motion said that the discussion over Adams’ cooperation with Trump’s immigration agenda was not unseemly but a matter of public safety. Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 18 Feb. 2025 Despite her best efforts to win them over, Meredith's well-meaning yet unseemly attempts only widen the gap, leading her to summon her sister (Claire Danes) for backup. Skyler Caruso, People.com, 19 Dec. 2024
Adverb
This side of the financing world is competitive in its jostling for clients and can be a bit unseemly. Brendan Coffey, Sportico.com, 9 Oct. 2024 However unseemly, Trump’s salacious rendez-vous with Stormy Daniels is not. S.e. Cupp, New York Daily News, 15 May 2024 See All Example Sentences for unseemly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unseemly
Adjective
  • Cornelius said that the superintendent later informed her of other prior incidents including her son — who has autism and is nonverbal — getting a shower without her permission, getting called vulgar names by staff and teachers, and receiving other inappropriate comments.
    Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Mar. 2025
  • The app has a private messaging feature that can lead to inappropriate conversations with predators.
    Hannah Nwoko, Parents, 21 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • If the new wells prove unsuitable for city use, the city has a contingency plan designed for rehabilitation.
    Kyle Martin, The Mercury News, 25 Mar. 2025
  • Until now, scientists have generally thought that planets orbiting white dwarfs would be unsuitable for life because the dynamic temperature decrease of their dead parent star makes their atmospheres too unstable.
    Robert Lea, Space.com, 19 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Medicare, the health insurance program for senior citizens, racked up $54.3 billion in improper payments last year.
    Kevin R. Kosar, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 21 Mar. 2025
  • This can happen due to simple things like the passage of time, changes in circumstance or improper categorization.
    Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA TODAY, 20 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • The question of the night is the choice between selling out their souls to the vapid American tourists at the Tropicana nightclub (bad) or singing for their own people on the wrong side of the tracks (good).
    Chris Jones, New York Daily News, 20 Mar. 2025
  • Bias is a problem because AI learns from past data, and if that data has mistakes or unfair patterns, AI can repeat them, leading to wrong or unfair decisions.
    Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Hallucinations, on the other hand, occur when an AI system is asked to provide factual information or perform specific tasks but instead generates incorrect or misleading content while presenting it as accurate.
    Anna Choi, The Conversation, 21 Mar. 2025
  • Do not sign an immigration form that includes incorrect information or blanks.
    Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 21 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Rather than panic, consider that software developers are pretty unhappy with the status quo.
    Steve Rodda, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2025
  • Recent polling also suggests that Americans are relatively unhappy with DOGE’s efforts.
    Filip Timotija, The Hill, 15 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • These individuals—who meet all military requirements, are deployed worldwide, and serve with distinction—are now labeled unfit based on a characteristic that has nothing to do with their abilities or performance.
    Carlos Del Toro, Newsweek, 17 Mar. 2025
  • When the Gulf War broke out in 1990, many staffers resisted covering it at all, deeming it a jingoistic exercise unfit for media participation.
    Dade Hayes, Deadline, 13 Mar. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Unseemly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unseemly. Accessed 31 Mar. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on unseemly

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!