dowdy

¹dowdy

noun \ˈdau̇-dē\

plural dowd·ies

Definition of DOWDY

archaic

: a dowdy woman

Origin of DOWDY

diminutive of dowd dowdy, from Middle English doude

First Known Use: 1581

Rhymes with DOWDY

cloudy, howdy, rowdy

²dowdy

adjective

dowd·i·erdowd·i·est

Definition of DOWDY

1

: not neat or becoming in appearance : shabby <a dowdy old hat>

2

a : lacking smartness or taste <a dowdy room>

b : old-fashioned <a dowdy institution>

— dowd·i·ly \ˈdau̇-də-lē\ adverb

— dowd·i·ness \ˈdau̇-dē-nəs\ noun

— dowdy·ish \-ish\ adjective

Examples of DOWDY

1. She played a dowdy old woman in the film.
2. <the dowdy, beat-up furniture at the cheap motel>

First Known Use of DOWDY

1676

Related to DOWDY

Synonyms

blowsy (also blowzy), sloppy, frowsy (or frowzy), slobbish, slobby, sloven, slovenly, unkempt, untidy

Antonyms

dapper, dashing, dolled up, sharp, smart, spruce

Related Words

slatternly; chaotic, cluttered, confused, disarranged, disheveled (or dishevelled), disordered, messed, messy, muddled, mussed, mussy, rumpled, shaggy, uncombed, wrinkled; shabby, sleazy; besmirched, blackened, dingy, dirty, filthy, foul, grimy, grubby, grungy, mucky, nasty, scroungy, scuzzy [slang], soiled, spotted, squalid, stained, sullied, unclean, uncleanly

Near Antonyms

chic, fashionable, modish, stylish; combed, groomed; neat, ordered, orderly, tidy; careful, fastidious, fussy, meticulous; clean, cleaned, cleanly, immaculate, sparkling, spotless, stainless, unsoiled, unsullied

Rhymes with DOWDY

howdy, rowdy

³dowdy

noun

Definition of DOWDY

: pandowdy

Origin of DOWDY

origin unknown

First Known Use: 1936