1
as in messy
lacking in order, neatness, and often cleanliness
an unkempt and cluttered room
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sloppy
lacking neatness in dress or person
the stereotype of the unkempt but brilliant scientist
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unkempt
They’ve been stigmatized as unkempt or unprofessional, banned in schools and workplaces through discriminatory policies that the CROWN Act was created to dismantle.
—
Jailynn Tayor, Essence, 21 Oct. 2025
Fanning, for whom this film is certainly a showcase, plays Polly, who’s revealed to be a physical and emotional mess in the opening scenes, in which she’s shown anxiously puttering around her large, unkempt house, chain-smoking and trying on dresses for an upcoming important interview.
—Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 10 Oct. 2025
To Washington, a beard made a man look unkempt and slovenly, masking the higher emotions that civility required.
—Maurizio Valsania, The Conversation, 2 Oct. 2025
The fit is snug and flattering, so there’s nothing unkempt about it, even though the vibe is casual.
—Gretta Monahan, Boston Herald, 28 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unkempt
Jailynn Tayor, Essence, 21 Oct. 2025
Fanning, for whom this film is certainly a showcase, plays Polly, who’s revealed to be a physical and emotional mess in the opening scenes, in which she’s shown anxiously puttering around her large, unkempt house, chain-smoking and trying on dresses for an upcoming important interview.
—Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 10 Oct. 2025
To Washington, a beard made a man look unkempt and slovenly, masking the higher emotions that civility required.
—Maurizio Valsania, The Conversation, 2 Oct. 2025
The fit is snug and flattering, so there’s nothing unkempt about it, even though the vibe is casual.
—Gretta Monahan, Boston Herald, 28 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unkempt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unkempt
Adjective
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But for the 2026 reboot, the two couples are poly and everything is way messier than the original.—
James Folta,
Literary Hub,
15 Jan. 2026
-
Even the world’s top leaders have shared that between messy return-to-office politics, scrambling to keep up with AI, and an unforgiving schedule, work gets too daunting for them, too, sometimes.—
Orianna Rosa Royle,
Fortune,
15 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The crewneck sweater with button details and batwing sleeves creates an oversized fit that feels effortless without looking sloppy.—
Chaise Sanders,
Travel + Leisure,
16 Jan. 2026
-
The win snapped a two-game losing streak for Joe Mazzulla’s squad, which looked sluggish and sloppy for much of the night.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
16 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
By contrast, fringe subcultures operate in a more cryptic and chaotic manner.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Much of the movie's story revolves around Marty's chaotic efforts to make enough money to travel to Japan and compete in a tournament there.—
Tommy McArdle,
PEOPLE,
12 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The actor, 42, sported a shaggy blonde hairstyle during a date night with girlfriend Monica Barbaro to see the Penn and Teller show in Las Vegas.—
Catherine Santino,
PEOPLE,
14 Jan. 2026
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In a first, researchers found a chunk of meat from a woolly rhinoceros — a creature similar in size to modern white rhinoceros, but with a shaggy coat of hair — preserved inside the stomach of one of the pups.—
Evan Bush,
NBC news,
14 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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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
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Cigarette butts are the most littered item on the planet.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
16 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
So many downtown buildings and parking areas are filthy, smelling of urine and unmaintained.—
U T Readers,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
12 Jan. 2026
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Merry Christmas ya filthy animals.—
Virginia Chamlee,
PEOPLE,
26 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
Inspired by the cognitive dissonance that Joan Didion experienced in Miami, Nick León creates a refreshingly untidy tapestry of the city’s dance music on A Tropical Entropy.—
Pitchfork,
Pitchfork,
2 Dec. 2025
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For all their control, Chelsea remain most vulnerable when the game becomes untidy.—
Sukhman Singh,
New York Times,
1 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Goedert scored his second touchdown on a fourth-and-2 leaving a confused Malik Mustapha behind him in the left flat.—
Chris Biderman,
Sacbee.com,
12 Jan. 2026
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Yet many of its citizens feel both whiplashed and confused.—
Margaret Talbot,
New Yorker,
11 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unkempt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unkempt. Accessed 17 Jan. 2026.
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