frumpier; frumpiest
: dowdy, drab: such as
a
: dressed in an unattractive way
He's a frumpy dresser.
That can't be Madonna playing a frumpy '30s-era missionary.Peter Travers
b
of clothing : not attractive : having an old, dull, unflattering, or untidy appearance
wore the same old frumpy sweater
… a dizzy mix of matronly frills, frumpy floral prints, and dotty dots …Flare
Frumpy shoes—those which forsake all suggestiveness in favor of comfort and mobility—are back.Misty White Sidell
Baggy pants, however, can add width and look frumpy.Christina Frank
frumpily adverb
frumpily dressed
frumpiness noun
Their hats are stained with sweat … and their clothes have an agreeable air of frumpiness. Cathy Horyn

Examples of frumpy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web It’s got a loose fit that’s roomy without looking frumpy. Isabel Garcia, Peoplemag, 6 Feb. 2024 Secondhand clothes, once seen as frumpy and embarrassing, are now keenly sought out by the fashion conscious. Joshua Kirby, WSJ, 19 Dec. 2023 Mimi is a naïve yet vulgarly pathetic character, who judges everyone’s designer clothes while wearing Bermuda shorts and frumpy sweaters. Vulture, 2 Jan. 2024 The leads are mice: a chic one, voiced by Eva Gabor; and a frumpy one, voiced by Bob Newhart. Chantel Tattoli, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Dec. 2023 The Bunkers’ sitcom house, the physical structure of it, is so familiar: the living room with the frumpy easy chairs; the stairs leading up to the bedrooms; the kitchen where a wife should be standing in an apron, smiling cheerfully. Vulture, 6 Dec. 2023 Seeking out cozy pants that don’t look like frumpy pajama bottoms has been my latest mission. Nicola Fumo, Peoplemag, 15 Nov. 2023 Consider sizing down for an oversized look that doesn’t feel frumpy, as this definitely runs extra roomy. Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 26 Oct. 2023 With a hint of stretch and a tailored fit, this shorts set feels elegant, not frumpy. Paula Lee, Glamour, 12 Oct. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'frumpy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1840, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of frumpy was circa 1840

Dictionary Entries Near frumpy

Cite this Entry

“Frumpy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/frumpy. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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