dowdier; dowdiest
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
Examples of dowdy in a Sentence
Adjective
She played a dowdy old woman in the film.
the dowdy, beat-up furniture at the cheap motel
Recent Examples on the Web
Malia Griggs, Glamour, 28 Apr. 2025
Meanwhile, the cutout neckline and darted bodice prevent it from being dowdy.
—Elise Taylor, Vogue, 21 Mar. 2025
Jane and Kit stand on either side, looking dowdy in black dresses and veils (not really an Irish thing).
—Cullen Murphy, airmail.news, 15 Feb. 2025
To stay warm without looking dowdy, add a fuzzy shrug or jacket on top and a pair of lace or plumetis tights below.
—Talia Abbas, Glamour, 15 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dowdy
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Adjective
These designs deliver on arch support without feeling dowdy.
—Malia Griggs, Glamour, 28 Apr. 2025
Meanwhile, the cutout neckline and darted bodice prevent it from being dowdy.
—Elise Taylor, Vogue, 21 Mar. 2025
Jane and Kit stand on either side, looking dowdy in black dresses and veils (not really an Irish thing).
—Cullen Murphy, airmail.news, 15 Feb. 2025
To stay warm without looking dowdy, add a fuzzy shrug or jacket on top and a pair of lace or plumetis tights below.
—Talia Abbas, Glamour, 15 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dowdy
Cite this Entry
“Dowdy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dowdy. Accessed 23 May. 2025.
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