kempt

adjective

ˈkem(p)t How to pronounce kempt (audio)
Definition of kemptnext
as in tidy
being clean and in good order a distinguished-looking gentleman with a kempt beard and an old-world manner

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 kempt The creeping ivy of rap had crawled over their white picket fences, across their kempt green lawns, and around their Victorian homes, weakening the old walls between cultures. — Jonathan Rowe, SPIN, 5 June 2023 There was a whiff of mystery, a sense that something more was going on behind those well-kempt exteriors. — Aaron Gilbreath, Longreads, 9 Feb. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kempt
  1. tidy
  2. neat
  3. trim
Adjective
  • Constellation boundaries are less tidy than the drawings suggest.
    — Jamie Carter, Space.com, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Order the homemade meatballs, polenta with sautéed mushrooms and mascarpone, and a pepperoni-and-hot-honey pizza along with any of the interesting wines or local craft beers on the tidy beverage list.
    — Christina Pérez, Vogue, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of tidy
Adjective
  • The back frizz is more confined, enclosed in the semi-neat bun.
    — Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026
  • To make your pencil skirt look more street style in 2026, swap a blazer for a bomber, a laptop bag bag for a neat top-handle bag and a silk blouse for a crew-neck jumper.
    — Emma Spedding, Vogue, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of neat
Adjective
  • Drawing on his experiences as a wrestler and 24-hour gym-bro style, fits were kept trim so Dong could wear, say, a pair of training shorts ($98) with a matching black quarter zip ($155) to workout in between market appointments in Paris.
    — Ari Stark, Footwear News, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Designers suggest using bold shades for walls, trim, or ceilings, while balancing intensity with neutral tones.
    — Tessa Cooper, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of trim

Browse Nearby Words

kelpies
kempt
ken
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Kempt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kempt. Accessed 15 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
a cup of tea and a golf ball on tee side by side
Quiz: Sounds Like... Choose the word that sounds like it fits the clue...
See All