variants
also blowzy
as in sloppy
lacking neatness in dress or person
a large, blowsy woman in frumpy clothes runs the diner
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of blowsy
Rows of blowsy moss-green cabbages, their thick veins silvered with spider webs, the edges of their tougher outer leaves nibbled by slugs and snails.
—
Literary Hub, 15 Aug. 2025
In the final scene, the one female regular at the Royal, a blowsy barfly well played by Barbara Lowing, is moving toward the bar as Hanna and Liv move decisively in the other direction.
—Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2023
The queen of Playland was Laughing Sal, a tall, blowsy figure of fun, with a maniacal laugh.
—Carl Nolte, San Francisco Chronicle, 23 Mar. 2018
Literary Hub, 15 Aug. 2025
In the final scene, the one female regular at the Royal, a blowsy barfly well played by Barbara Lowing, is moving toward the bar as Hanna and Liv move decisively in the other direction.
—Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2023
The queen of Playland was Laughing Sal, a tall, blowsy figure of fun, with a maniacal laugh.
—Carl Nolte, San Francisco Chronicle, 23 Mar. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blowsy
Adjective
-
Jeans This ‘90s-style denim by Levi’s has a slightly slouchy fit (that doesn’t border on the side of sloppy) with a straight leg.—
Reece Andavolgyi,
InStyle,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Roads may get a bit sloppy, too, with ponding possible in spots and even some icing far north and west of the city.—
Justin Lewis,
CBS News,
5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Yellowing leaves can indicate overwatering, while wrinkled leaves can point to underwatering.—
Madeline Buiano,
Martha Stewart,
8 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The look was completed with a side part and shaggy bangs.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Velasquez says that shaggy layers are a great way to give natural curls movement and life.—
Audrey Noble,
InStyle,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
And this is where the movie takes off from retro mythology to become its own slovenly mod thing.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
4 Mar. 2026
-
To Washington, a beard made a man look unkempt and slovenly, masking the higher emotions that civility required.—
Maurizio Valsania,
The Conversation,
2 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
On Ocean Drive where the Art Deco hotels still have spectacular ocean views but have mostly small, unkempt rooms.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
27 Feb. 2026
-
Mitski is the writer of these songs, but the speaker is someone else, a reclusive woman who resides in an unkempt house.—
Hanif Abdurraqib,
New Yorker,
27 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The expansion of the humanitarian system was untidy and asymmetric, driven by the organizational self-interest of the bigger international NGOs and UN agencies involved in crisis response and their desire for greater market share.—
Time,
Time,
26 Feb. 2026
-
An early version of the best dessert in the house was a great-tasting but untidy wet block of orange cake the size of a solitaire deck with a ping-pong scoop of chocolate ice cream.—
Mike Sutter,
San Antonio Express-News,
25 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
By stumbling onto the fact that her dowdy biology professor, Dr. Sam (Kathy Najimy), is a secret mad scientist.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Cher’s memorable transformation from a dowdy Italian widow residing in Brooklyn, NY, stole the movie.—
Tonya Blazio-Licorish,
Footwear News,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The piece is also outdoor-safe and easy to care for; simply wipe it down with a dry cloth after a messy project.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
6 Mar. 2026
-
The series revolves around three awkward high school sophomores — Steven (Martin), Garrett (Taylor) and Anna (Pruitt) — who stumble through the messy world of teenage romance and identity, learning that sucking at girls is just part of growing up.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
5 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Blowsy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blowsy. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
