dowdy

²dowdy

adj

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

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Rhymes with DOWDY

howdy, rowdy