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
Tidy outdoor areas where insects and pests tend to hide, such as wood piles, leaf piles, overgrowth, or unkempt landscaping.
—
Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 30 Jan. 2026
Helen gets defensive when those around her express concern about her behavior and her unkempt conditions.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 23 Jan. 2026
Many episodes featured Stanger giving tough love to unkempt potential matches and the picky millionaires.
—Emy Lacroix, PEOPLE, 22 Jan. 2026
Beyond this, there are some serious examples of how Maryland’s unkempt voter rolls can permanently damage individuals’ careers and livelihoods.
—Nicolee Ambrose, Baltimore Sun, 13 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unkempt
Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 30 Jan. 2026
Helen gets defensive when those around her express concern about her behavior and her unkempt conditions.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 23 Jan. 2026
Many episodes featured Stanger giving tough love to unkempt potential matches and the picky millionaires.
—Emy Lacroix, PEOPLE, 22 Jan. 2026
Beyond this, there are some serious examples of how Maryland’s unkempt voter rolls can permanently damage individuals’ careers and livelihoods.
—Nicolee Ambrose, Baltimore Sun, 13 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unkempt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unkempt
Adjective
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Meanwhile, at the Milan Fashion Week show, the star embraced an edgy aesthetic with a messy low ponytail and smudged black eyeliner with smoky navy eyeshadow.—
Lara Walsh,
InStyle,
26 Feb. 2026
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That unfolding intra-family fight is messy, to put it mildly, but one that Democrats are relishing.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
26 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Compared to the absolving gleam of latex, sloppy imperfection isn’t especially sexy.—
Lillian Fishman,
New Yorker,
25 Feb. 2026
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Against the Raptors, that translated into sloppy basketball.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The creative chaotic Ever enter a room that looks like a mess to you, but its inhabitant knows exactly where everything is?—
Julianna Chen,
Dallas Morning News,
2 Mar. 2026
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Arab leaders have sought to calm nationals and expatriate residents who chose to move to the Persian Gulf region for stability, safety and the promise of prosperity, but who are increasingly growing uneasy as the conflict becomes more chaotic.—
Mostafa Salem,
CNN Money,
2 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The shredded sleeves of her Ashi Studio gown, frayed edges of her Dilara Findikoglu dress, trompe-l’oeil of her Margiela, fabric twists of her Roberto Cavalli, and shaggy accents of her vintage John Galliano are key touch-points.—
Alice Cary,
Vogue,
24 Feb. 2026
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The star kept her beauty minimal for the Sunday morning sunbathing, styling her blonde hair down with shaggy face-framing bangs grazing her cheekbones and partially obscuring her eyes.—
Lara Walsh,
InStyle,
23 Feb. 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
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Yellowing leaves can indicate overwatering, while wrinkled leaves can point to underwatering.—
Madeline Buiano,
Martha Stewart,
8 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Kelli Bryant, 34, was facing three counts each of child abuse related to allegedly forcing her three children, a 15-year-old boy and a 13- and 12-year-old girl, to live in unbearable, filthy conditions in an apartment on Lydia Lane.—
Paula Wethington,
CBS News,
25 Feb. 2026
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Other parts of the ballpark, including the exterior concourse and entrances, were also impacted by the filthy leaks, which stunk to high heaven.—
Gary Phillips,
Hartford Courant,
22 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Commoners’ untidy open fields are returning to contemporary agricultural practice.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 Feb. 2026
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Trusting our usual virtual background on Teams to mask an untidy living room or kitchen table from colleagues.—
Zak Doffman,
Forbes.com,
24 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unkempt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unkempt. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.
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