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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dowdy
Chris Hemsworth, then, almost as good-looking as GNev himself, with his slightly dowdy brother Luke cast as good old Phil.
—
Jack Lang,
New York Times,
22 Jan. 2026
Bonus points for Sarah Sherman’s dowdy character, who accidentally got on the Epstein list.
—
Rima Parikh,
Vulture,
5 Oct. 2025
Once known for dowdy packaging and perhaps questionable tastes or ingredients, the products now compete with national name brands, sparking a shakeup among major food companies.
—
Jordan Valinsky,
CNN Money,
24 Sep. 2025
Defense leaders have sat on their hands, refusing to acknowledge the need for dowdy, run-of-the-mill tankers.
—
Craig Hooper,
Forbes.com,
26 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dowdy
Jack Lang,
New York Times,
22 Jan. 2026
Bonus points for Sarah Sherman’s dowdy character, who accidentally got on the Epstein list.
—
Rima Parikh,
Vulture,
5 Oct. 2025
Once known for dowdy packaging and perhaps questionable tastes or ingredients, the products now compete with national name brands, sparking a shakeup among major food companies.
—
Jordan Valinsky,
CNN Money,
24 Sep. 2025
Defense leaders have sat on their hands, refusing to acknowledge the need for dowdy, run-of-the-mill tankers.
—
Craig Hooper,
Forbes.com,
26 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dowdy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dowdy
Adjective
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Winning like a Feeney Due to some sloppy defensive errors from the silver-haired infield, the Feeneys allowed more runs in the top of the seventh.
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The Walpole, Massachusetts native, making his second career start at Fenway Park in front of family and friends, surrendered a two-run, go-ahead homer to ex-Yankees prospect Caleb Durbin in the fifth inning of what was a sloppy, 6-3, loss for the Bombers.
Adjective
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Realbotix said the platform includes education-specific safety controls, district oversight, and safeguards designed to prevent inappropriate responses.
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That meant that anybody who’s doing anything that could be called terrorism, including eco terrorists, however inappropriate the term, was going to be a target.
Adjective
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Participants with wet but non-wrinkled fingers required significantly more force to maintain the same hold; their hands were working harder to do less.
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Yellowing leaves can indicate overwatering, while wrinkled leaves can point to underwatering.
Adjective
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In a country where air conditioning is both uncommon and unfashionable, many have sought relief by swimming, despite the danger involved.
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More to Explore Many of the human props—canes, top hats, desks—used in primate taxidermy became unfashionable in the first half of the nineteenth century, but there were still throwbacks.
Adjective
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When Jon Brion would perform at Largo in Los Angeles, the enthrallment of his show entailed watching the shaggy-haired guy play myriad instruments, sampling and looping them into a climactic song.
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That charming and shaggy approach is fitting for such a campy and irreverent comedy, ultimately substituting polish for an equal mixture of artistic grit and careless joy.
Adjective
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In 2023 the agency documented signs of stress in sloths during public encounters, improper handling of a juvenile kangaroo and environmental conditions deemed unsuitable for a sloth’s care.
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As a result of the unsuitable conditions, Stevie was starving and dehydrated.
Adjective
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Dense planting doesn't have to look wild or unkempt, West notes.
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The back yard, casually unkempt and shaded by tall trees, exudes natural splendor.
Adjective
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Govern From Day One In a regulated context, an assistant that produces a confident but incorrect answer carries genuine regulatory and reputational exposure.
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Many argue that signatures are invalid because signers listed incorrect addresses or live outside of the district the candidate wants to represent.
Cite this Entry
“Dowdy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dowdy. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
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