1
as in messy
lacking in order, neatness, and often cleanliness
an unkempt and cluttered room
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sloppy
lacking neatness in dress or person
the stereotype of the unkempt but brilliant scientist
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 unkempt
On Ocean Drive where the Art Deco hotels still have spectacular ocean views but have mostly small, unkempt rooms.
—
Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 27 Feb. 2026
Mitski is the writer of these songs, but the speaker is someone else, a reclusive woman who resides in an unkempt house.
—Hanif Abdurraqib, New Yorker, 27 Feb. 2026
This slow-growing columnar cactus looks striking in a pot because it’s covered in white, wooly spines that look like unkempt hair.
—Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Feb. 2026
It should be noted that Ruffalo’s detective is unkempt in direct proportion to the way Hemsworth wears a tailored black suit.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 13 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unkempt
Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 27 Feb. 2026
Mitski is the writer of these songs, but the speaker is someone else, a reclusive woman who resides in an unkempt house.
—Hanif Abdurraqib, New Yorker, 27 Feb. 2026
This slow-growing columnar cactus looks striking in a pot because it’s covered in white, wooly spines that look like unkempt hair.
—Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Feb. 2026
It should be noted that Ruffalo’s detective is unkempt in direct proportion to the way Hemsworth wears a tailored black suit.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 13 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unkempt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unkempt
Adjective
-
But even chips are absent from the formal agenda because the politics are too messy.—
Liz Hoffman,
semafor.com,
14 May 2026
-
Just to make things even messier and more over-plotted, Sylvie notices a light on for five days straight in an upper-floor apartment, reporting to the cops her concern that the old man who lives there might have died.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
14 May 2026
Adjective
-
These Amazon finds are made for petite travelers who want to stay comfortable without defaulting to sloppy sweats.—
Chaise Sanders,
Travel + Leisure,
14 May 2026
-
Spurs seemed to run out of energy and their passing became sloppy.—
Beren Cross,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
Adjective
-
His earliest mature paintings, often filled with snarling creatures arranged in chaotic formations, started to include monochromatic backgrounds that became a staple in his art.—
Alex Greenberger,
ARTnews.com,
11 May 2026
-
Alongside the duo’s elevation, the raging crowds for Yeat’s live shows became both electric and chaotic.—
Miki Hellerbach,
Los Angeles Times,
11 May 2026
Adjective
-
Some shaggy buffalo drowsed in a patch of shade, and a hose fed water into a large puddle where a white goose paddled in tight circles.—
Rachel Monroe,
New Yorker,
14 May 2026
-
Burtka sported a shaggy hairstyle and a black coat, adding a red tie.—
Kayla Grant,
PEOPLE,
13 May 2026
Adjective
-
In the past, her songs were so littered with personal details that listening felt voyeuristic.—
Madison Bloom,
Pitchfork,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The series does not touch on the tabloid attention that followed the Beckhams in 2004, when it was alleged that David had an affair with his personal assistant, Rebecca Loos, and the many further accusations of cheating that littered gossip columns after.—
Scarlett Harris,
Time,
9 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Yellowing leaves can indicate overwatering, while wrinkled leaves can point to underwatering.—
Madeline Buiano,
Martha Stewart,
8 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Inside, filthy soldiers press up against the wood.—
Eliana Dockterman,
Time,
12 May 2026
-
Baker said while Fike's immediate surroundings were filthy, a brand-new hospital bed, urinal and wheelchair were available at the home.—
Madeline Bartos,
CBS News,
7 May 2026
Adjective
-
The expansion of the humanitarian system was untidy and asymmetric, driven by the organizational self-interest of the bigger international NGOs and UN agencies involved in crisis response and their desire for greater market share.—
Time,
Time,
26 Feb. 2026
-
An early version of the best dessert in the house was a great-tasting but untidy wet block of orange cake the size of a solitaire deck with a ping-pong scoop of chocolate ice cream.—
Mike Sutter,
San Antonio Express-News,
25 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unkempt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unkempt. Accessed 16 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
