1
as in messy
lacking in order, neatness, and often cleanliness
an unkempt and cluttered room
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sloppy
lacking neatness in dress or person
the stereotype of the unkempt but brilliant scientist
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unkempt
They’ve been stigmatized as unkempt or unprofessional, banned in schools and workplaces through discriminatory policies that the CROWN Act was created to dismantle.
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Jailynn Tayor, Essence, 21 Oct. 2025
Fanning, for whom this film is certainly a showcase, plays Polly, who’s revealed to be a physical and emotional mess in the opening scenes, in which she’s shown anxiously puttering around her large, unkempt house, chain-smoking and trying on dresses for an upcoming important interview.
—Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 10 Oct. 2025
To Washington, a beard made a man look unkempt and slovenly, masking the higher emotions that civility required.
—Maurizio Valsania, The Conversation, 2 Oct. 2025
The fit is snug and flattering, so there’s nothing unkempt about it, even though the vibe is casual.
—Gretta Monahan, Boston Herald, 28 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unkempt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unkempt
Adjective
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Adding a dust ruffle around the base of your bed can make this spot even better for keeping messy items hidden.—
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Art Supplies Art supplies will get messy fast if those tubes and bottles leak or burst.—
Adjective
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The soft knit fabric drapes just right, giving that relaxed vibe without looking sloppy.—
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Practice had been a bit a sloppy at times, but San Diego State coach Brian Dutcher had a wide smile anyway Thursday afternoon.—
Adjective
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Paul’s chaotic yet candid nature quickly uplifted her to reality TV icon status, so much so that ABC named her their next star of The Bachelorette.—
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Dispatch recordings from firefighters who were first on the scene at Miami Heat Coach Erik Spoelstra’s home early Thursday reveal a chaotic and fast-moving fire that left crews scrambling to find water and to contain the spreading flames.—
Adjective
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Van Sant was impressed by Elwes’s preparation and physical transformation, with his shaggy hair and bushy beard.—
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To go with her new gal on the go lifestyle, she's chopped off her iconic perm in favor of a whimsical, shaggy pixie cut.—
Adjective
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The series does not touch on the tabloid attention that followed the Beckhams in 2004, when it was alleged that David had an affair with his personal assistant, Rebecca Loos, and the many further accusations of cheating that littered gossip columns after.—
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Cigarette butts are the most littered item on the planet.—
Adjective
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Merry Christmas ya filthy animals.—
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In other words, Cunha’s job is to convince the Americans now running the federal government to give Brown’s motley crew of gender-benders, anti-Semites and filthy-rich legacies a good leaving alone.—
Adjective
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Inspired by the cognitive dissonance that Joan Didion experienced in Miami, Nick León creates a refreshingly untidy tapestry of the city’s dance music on A Tropical Entropy.—
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For all their control, Chelsea remain most vulnerable when the game becomes untidy.—
Adjective
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Goedert scored his second touchdown on a fourth-and-2 leaving a confused Malik Mustapha behind him in the left flat.—
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Yet many of its citizens feel both whiplashed and confused.—
Cite this Entry
“Unkempt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unkempt. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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