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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of unkempt
Also, not everyone appreciates dandelions and unkempt lawns.
—
Anne Readel,
Better Homes & Gardens,
12 May 2026
The dog is too thin, his fur is unkempt, and to top it all off, his owner leaves him outside all year round.
—
Harriette Cole,
Mercury News,
7 May 2026
Towering at seven feet, with unblinking googly eyes, a shaggy blaze of orange fur and a gloriously unkempt beard, Gritty looks like pure chaos brought to life.
—
Samantha Agate,
Charlotte Observer,
28 Apr. 2026
Over time, the unoccupied and unkempt property — from deteriorating exteriors to overgrown yards — can create issues within the existing community.
—
Stacy Lambe,
PEOPLE,
18 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unkempt
Anne Readel,
Better Homes & Gardens,
12 May 2026
The dog is too thin, his fur is unkempt, and to top it all off, his owner leaves him outside all year round.
—
Harriette Cole,
Mercury News,
7 May 2026
Towering at seven feet, with unblinking googly eyes, a shaggy blaze of orange fur and a gloriously unkempt beard, Gritty looks like pure chaos brought to life.
—
Samantha Agate,
Charlotte Observer,
28 Apr. 2026
Over time, the unoccupied and unkempt property — from deteriorating exteriors to overgrown yards — can create issues within the existing community.
—
Stacy Lambe,
PEOPLE,
18 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unkempt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unkempt
Adjective
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Interviews for the statewide candidates are done now via questions from the entire convention, a potentially messier proposition.
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More vehicles on the road means more potential for complex, multi-vehicle collisions and messier disputes over who caused what.
Adjective
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Winning like a Feeney Due to some sloppy defensive errors from the silver-haired infield, the Feeneys allowed more runs in the top of the seventh.
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The Walpole, Massachusetts native, making his second career start at Fenway Park in front of family and friends, surrendered a two-run, go-ahead homer to ex-Yankees prospect Caleb Durbin in the fifth inning of what was a sloppy, 6-3, loss for the Bombers.
Adjective
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By building circuits whose states naturally fluctuate with this environmental heat, thermodynamic computing turns an otherwise stochastic and chaotic feature of nature into an incredibly fast, ultra-low-energy calculator.
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The combat that follows is intimate, chaotic, and bloody.
Adjective
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When Jon Brion would perform at Largo in Los Angeles, the enthrallment of his show entailed watching the shaggy-haired guy play myriad instruments, sampling and looping them into a climactic song.
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That charming and shaggy approach is fitting for such a campy and irreverent comedy, ultimately substituting polish for an equal mixture of artistic grit and careless joy.
Adjective
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In the past, her songs were so littered with personal details that listening felt voyeuristic.
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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.
Adjective
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Participants with wet but non-wrinkled fingers required significantly more force to maintain the same hold; their hands were working harder to do less.
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Yellowing leaves can indicate overwatering, while wrinkled leaves can point to underwatering.
Adjective
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And a great bench of freelancers is making this all-American game feel dramatic, approachable, and exciting—even to filthy casuals.
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But, the freedom loving sane people of this great country came to Karoline's defense to show support, destroy the filthy LIBS and celebrate the greatest press secretary this country has ever employed.
Adjective
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In the living room, a pilot rearranges an untidy study desk.
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Worn or half-empty cereal boxes and chip bags disrupt the visual flow of open shelving and look untidy.
Cite this Entry
“Unkempt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unkempt. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.
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