shapeless

adjective

ˈshā-pləs How to pronounce shapeless (audio)
Definition of shapelessnext
1
as in distorted
badly or imperfectly formed a shapeless old hat

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in amorphous
having no definite or recognizable form right now this clay is just a shapeless lump, but wait until I'm done sculpting it

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 shapeless The dress was designed with a shapeless, flowing silhouette, with sleeveless element and maxi hem. — Julia Teti, Footwear News, 27 Feb. 2026 Then, after the adults come into the frame and Toha dresses in shapeless clothes and a headscarf, their social position and economic circumstances become much clearer. — Alissa Simon, Variety, 25 Feb. 2026 Spurs are hapless, listless, shapeless, themeless, hopeless. — George Caulkin, New York Times, 11 Feb. 2026 Its largely shapeless silhouette moved effortlessly in and out of the frame with a hem that fell well below her knee. — Emma Banks, InStyle, 7 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for shapeless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shapeless
  1. distorted
  2. amorphous
  3. monstrous
  4. formless
  5. misshapen
  6. chaotic
  7. unstructured
  8. unformed
Adjective
  • When war finally brought slavery to an end, this distorted view of Washington ceased to be of use as a political emblem.
    — John Garrison Marks, The Atlantic, 25 July 2026
  • Human faces emerge from distorted forms that appear stretched through time, echoing motifs found in Chan’s earlier titanium sculptures.
    — Anthony DeMarco, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
Definition of distorted
Adjective
  • Veteran safety Josh Metellus said not having Smith was like missing a major portion of the pie chart that allows Minnesota’s defense to stay amorphous and problematic.
    — Alec Lewis, New York Times, 31 July 2026
  • Though this amorphous title isn’t usually anointed until around Labor Day, the chatter starts almost as soon as the season heats up.
    — Marissa R. Moss, Rolling Stone, 27 July 2026
Definition of amorphous
Adjective
  • Their sets feature cool jumps, monstrous obstacles and cityscapes that expand on the iconic orange track, and each is aimed at inspiring creativity and imaginative play.
    — BestReviews, Mercury News, 31 July 2026
  • Everyone feels like they’re dehumanized by the process in a way that leads them to suspect there’s something monstrous about the whole endeavor.
    — David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 31 July 2026
Definition of monstrous
Adjective
  • Musicians have long sought to give form to the formless, unconstrained yet palatable, inspirational and divine.
    — Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 21 July 2026
  • Without training in how to respond to it, a threat can feel not just frightening but formless, something to be endured rather than navigated.
    — Andrei Popoviciu, The Dial, 21 July 2026
Definition of formless
Adjective
  • Look for roots emerging from the drainage holes or a container that’s bulging or misshapen, says Lisa Eldred Steinkopf, houseplant expert and author of The Houseplant Guru.
    — Colleen Sullivan, Martha Stewart, 21 July 2026
  • Better known as citrus greening, the disease starves the roots, results in bitter, misshapen fruit, and eventually kills the tree.
    — Jim Turner, Sun Sentinel, 10 July 2026
Definition of misshapen
Adjective
  • The hub of the spaceship was too crowded and chaotic for communication, so Frank Kuligowski motioned his pal to the peace of a nearby corridor.
    — Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 26 July 2026
  • The first day used to be so chaotic and humorous in the old days, with players not knowing how to put on helmets let alone figure out shoulder pads and struggling in line drills.
    — Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 26 July 2026
Definition of chaotic
Adjective
  • People process, remember, and act on information more easily when it’s organized into three buckets instead of an unstructured, rambling, and confusing stream of ideas.
    — Carmine Gallo, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
  • The first two play to AI’s natural advantages in handling large, unstructured datasets.
    — Roderick Wong, Fortune, 25 July 2026
Definition of unstructured
Adjective
  • More than a hundred years after unformed marble passed through her hands and into human form, her works are at long last assembled together to speak as a kind of family.
    — Tyehimba Jess, ARTnews.com, 17 Apr. 2026
  • Davidson’s chat with Kelly has no structure, no segments, and no particular gimmick; and while none of that is required of a podcast, some sense of organization can help shape an otherwise-unformed snippet of conversation.
    — David Sims, The Atlantic, 7 Feb. 2026
Definition of unformed

Browse Nearby Words

shaped up
shapeless
shapeliness
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Shapeless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shapeless. Accessed 2 Aug. 2026.

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