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
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
Helen, on the other hand, has blossomed from dowdy to dazzling, and is now a best-selling author bent on revenge and wooing back Ernest.
—Frank Rizzo, Variety, 22 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for 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
Helen, on the other hand, has blossomed from dowdy to dazzling, and is now a best-selling author bent on revenge and wooing back Ernest.
—Frank Rizzo, Variety, 22 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for dowdy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dowdy
Adjective
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The turmoil dates back to a somewhat sloppy performance at a charity show at London’s Royal Albert Hall in March.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
4 Aug. 2025
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Learning how to practice Despite the steady energy throughout camp, Saturday’s session had its share of sloppy moments.—
Zach Sweet,
Kansas City Star,
3 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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From the gorgeous, earthy stripe on Madewell’s mini skirt to a romantic floral print on Belle Poque’s midi dress, these designs will put a unique spin on any outfit, without looking unfashionable in less than a year.—
Genevieve Cepeda,
Travel + Leisure,
1 Aug. 2025
-
Some people worry that one-piece swimsuits appear unfashionable or dated.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
28 May 2025
Adjective
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Labor of love sometimes translates as a low budget or shaggy overall appearance.—
Scott Phillips,
Forbes.com,
6 Aug. 2025
-
Barr — who is tall with long, shaggy hair and was dressed like a surfer the day of our interview — has never been afraid to try new things in pursuit of adventure.—
Salvador Rodriguez,
CNBC,
1 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Trump turned instead to the Florida congressman Matt Gaetz, a flagrantly unsuitable choice; Trump’s private lawyer, Boris Epshteyn, encouraged the selection.—
Ruth Marcus,
New Yorker,
18 Aug. 2025
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Inadequate performance or products unsuitable for retirement plans can open them to legal ramifications.—
Sandy Carter,
Forbes.com,
7 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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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
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But, as in these United States, the key question remains whether creeping totalitarianism — from the left and the right — will squeeze everyday people out of their inalienable right to just be their sometimes obnoxious, unkempt, idiosyncratic selves.—
Ed Wallace,
New York Daily News,
6 June 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 23 Aug. 2025.
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