Synonyms of unseemly

unseemly 1 of 2

adjective

ˌən-ˈsēm-lē 

as in inappropriate

not appropriate for a particular occasion or situation

an unseemly interest in their host's income and expenses

Synonyms & Similar Words

• inappropriate
• unsuitable
• improper
• wrong
• incorrect
• unhappy
• unfit
• unfortunate
• irrelevant
• incongruous
• unbecoming
• indecorous
• perverse
• untoward
• out of the way
• infelicitous
• unacceptable
• out of place
• graceless
• amiss
• inept
• inapt
• awkward
• bad
• inapposite
• unapt
• inconsistent
• naughty
• untimely
• unseasonable
• malapropos
• extraneous
• inopportune
• immaterial
• sinful
• forbidden
• uncongenial
• inapplicable
• incompatible
• irrelative
• censurable
• mismatched
• blameworthy
• ungraceful
• unsatisfactory
• prohibited
• blamable
• gauche
• barred
• proscribed
• disallowed
• outlawed
• misbecoming
• banned
• interdicted

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• appropriate
• proper
• suitable
• right
• correct
• fitting
• happy
• becoming
• relative
• relevant
• meet
• genteel
• decorous
• timely
• felicitous
• fortunate
• applicable
• apt
• fit
• opportune
• seemly
• seasonable
• congenial
• permitted
• apposite
• material
• harmonious
• befitting
• pointed
• acceptable
• compatible
• pat
• adequate
• authorized
• satisfactory
• all right
• fine
• endorsed
• okay
• germane
• approved
• tolerable
• respectable
• kosher
• sanctioned
• promoted
• decent
• allowed
• OK
• apropos
• licensed
• exemplary
• commendable
• supported
• creditable
• encouraged
• passable
• irreproachable
• blameless
• consonant
• balanced
• abetted
• indorsed
• congruous
• companionate

unseemly

2 of 2

adverb

as in inappropriately

Synonyms & Similar Words

• inappropriately
• improperly
• incongruously
• wrongly
• incorrectly
• unsuitably
• unfortunately
• unsatisfactorily
• unacceptably
• unseasonably
• inopportunely
• irrelevantly
• inaptly
• ungracefully
• awkwardly
• inappositely

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• appropriately
• properly
• rightly
• right
• suitably
• correctly
• duly
• happily
• fittingly
• well
• congruously
• appositely
• meetly
• adequately
• acceptably
• tolerably
• satisfactorily
• passably

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective unseemly differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of unseemly are improper, indecorous, indelicate, and unbecoming. While all these words mean "not conforming to what is accepted as right, fitting, or in good taste," unseemly adds a suggestion of special inappropriateness to a situation or an offensiveness to good taste.

remarried with unseemly haste

When could improper be used to replace unseemly?

In some situations, the words improper and unseemly are roughly equivalent. However, improper applies to a broader range of transgressions of rules not only of social behavior but of ethical practice or logical procedure or prescribed method.

improper use of campaign contributions

When can indecorous be used instead of unseemly?

While in some cases nearly identical to unseemly, indecorous suggests a violation of accepted standards of good manners.

indecorous behavior

When would indelicate be a good substitute for unseemly?

The synonyms indelicate and unseemly are sometimes interchangeable, but indelicate implies a lack of modesty or of tact or of refined perception of feeling.

indelicate expressions for bodily functions

When is it sensible to use unbecoming instead of unseemly?

While the synonyms unbecoming and unseemly are close in meaning, unbecoming suggests behavior or language that does not suit one's character or status.

conduct unbecoming to an officer

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of unseemly

Adjective

Now, the mayor and aldermen face unseemly optics: privately agreeing to pressure vendors — many of whom already operate on slim profit margins — while failing to disclose that this was a key budget-balancing strategy to avoid raising property taxes. —The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2025

An unseemly blackmail incident and a pressing need for cash mean, however, the siblings get entangled in the city’s murky underworld, setting up a series that is equal parts drama and comedy. —Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 25 Feb. 2025

Adverb

This side of the financing world is competitive in its jostling for clients and can be a bit unseemly. —Brendan Coffey, Sportico.com, 9 Oct. 2024

However unseemly, Trump’s salacious rendez-vous with Stormy Daniels is not. —S.e. Cupp, New York Daily News, 15 May 2024