1
as in sloppy
lacking neatness in dress or person
a dowdy old matron
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in inappropriate
marked by an obvious lack of style or good taste
the dowdy, beat-up furniture at the cheap motel
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dowdy
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dowdy
Adjective
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Toronto talks often about turning the page — leaving sloppy play or outside noise in the previous night.—
Mitch Bannon,
New York Times,
20 Aug. 2025
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They’re known for their sloppy juan– brisket trimmings and pulled pork in a flour tortilla.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
18 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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In the video, Adams accuses the man of being inappropriate with a minor on Grindr, a LGBTQ+ dating and social networking app where the minimum age to make an account is 18.—
Jade Jackson,
IndyStar,
14 Aug. 2025
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Avoid anything offensive, violent or inappropriate.—
Jenna Prestininzi,
Freep.com,
14 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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While some of France’s important estates have sold out, diversified internationally, or even pursued potentially short-sighted revenue streams, Guigal has continued along its own path, quietly expanding their reach through a series of deliberate but seemingly unfashionable local acquisitions.—
Paul Caputo,
Forbes.com,
22 Aug. 2025
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Superman wraps these deeply unfashionable themes and aspirations in the pomp, spectacle, and humor that are Gunn’s superhero trademark (see: the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy, easily among the best of Marvel Comics’ cinematic offerings).—
Derek Robertson,
The Washington Examiner,
8 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Chi-Raq Year: 2015 Runtime: 2h 7m Lee has never been known for clockwork precision or fastidiousness: Even some of his best movies are shaggy and rough around the edges.—
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
16 Aug. 2025
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Since then, the 29-year-old actor has kept his hair clipped in short, shaggy layers.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
12 June 2025
Adjective
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The drastic drop in performance from the 2022 season points to the idea that the current generation of cars is unsuitable for the Briton.—
Saajan Jogia,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Aug. 2025
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But, in the thirty-ninth year of his reign and with eleven wives at the latest count, he’s apparently decided that the British system of multi-party democracy and press freedom continues to be unsuitable for his kingdom or his lavish lifestyle.—
The Editors,
JSTOR Daily,
15 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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If Washington streets and public places are unkempt and unsafe, who will venture to go there?—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
19 Aug. 2025
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Most wine lovers know that the word Sauvignon comes from the French word sauvage and the word blanc simply means white, but most people don’t know the reason is because when untrained vines of the variety have a distinctly unkempt appearance.—
Mike DeSimone and Jeff Jenssen,
Robb Report,
4 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Hoka Women’s Kaha 2 GTX Waterproof Hiking Boots Hiking boots don’t need to be frumpy and unstylish—just look at this adorable pair that’s now up to 59 percent off just in time for the Fourth of July.—
Merrell Readman,
Travel + Leisure,
5 July 2025
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Only this time, Trump’s ambush was far more clearly choreographed, and thus somewhat less unstylish.—
Jonny Steinberg,
Time,
22 May 2025
Adjective
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The other near certainty in Lead Actor should be Gary Oldman, who anchors Slow Horses with a slovenly charisma that is, against all odds, deeply watchable.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
24 May 2025
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Related Stories The movie O’Neil has put together out of this footage, which premiered last night at Cannes, is by any real-world standard a slovenly and undisciplined piece of work.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
19 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dowdy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dowdy. Accessed 4 Sep. 2025.
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