frumpy

adjective

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\ ˈfrəm-pē

frumpier; frumpiest

Definition of frumpy

: 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

Other Words from frumpy Example Sentences Learn More About frumpy

Other Words from frumpy

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 The key to ensuring your look is elegant and never frumpy is to pay close attention to proportions. — Vogue, 2 June 2022 So, skip frumpy sweats and skintight leggings and opt for a comfortable travel dress that can effortlessly elevate your look. — Karla Pope, Woman's Day, 24 May 2022 Hathaway gave us a chic lesson in airport dressing by adding an effortlessly cool edge to a black suit with a baggy (not frumpy) fit, elevated white T-shirt, and classic sneakers. — Vogue, 23 May 2022 As for the pair of women at the series’ heart: Biel’s much too obviously a 2022 celebrity fit to play a supposedly fragile-looking 1980s housewife, no matter how hard the tight curls of her frumpy wig try to prove otherwise. — Caroline Framke, Variety, 5 May 2022 Ten dancers file on in seemingly random order, wearing frumpy white suit shirts and spaced about six feet apart. — Lauren Warnecke, chicagotribune.com, 2 Apr. 2022 Society may tell you that vans are frumpy, but those in the know will agree that today's minivans offer more practicality than SUVs, and some full-size vans offer towing and hauling capabilities that rival those of pickup trucks. — Car and Driver, 4 Feb. 2022 Unlike Treina, who looks great in anything Spandex and sparkly, Sarah Jo favors frumpy-sweet cardigan-and-skirt combos straight out of the sister-wife catalog. — Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 25 Jan. 2022 Made of viscose, polyester, and nylon, the oversized sweater is soft, stretchy, and roomy without looking frumpy. — Isabel Garcia, PEOPLE.com, 19 Jan. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'frumpy.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.