unkempt

adjective

ˌən-ˈkem(p)t How to pronounce unkempt (audio)
Definition of unkemptnext
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 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 Dense planting doesn't have to look wild or unkempt, West notes. — Rachel Silva, Martha Stewart, 12 June 2026 The hillbilly is portrayed as ignorant, uneducated, and unsophisticated; they are often depicted as being unkempt in appearance, perhaps noticeably dirty or walking around barefoot. — Jordana Rosenfeld, Encyclopedia Britannica, 12 June 2026 Planting a native garden does not have to mean a wild, unkempt aesthetic. — Ashley Chalmers, The Spruce, 6 June 2026 That shouldn’t happen to anyone, even unkempt cheaters. — Emma Specter, Vogue, 27 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for unkempt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unkempt
  1. messy
  2. sloppy
  3. chaotic
  4. shaggy
  5. littered
  6. wrinkled
  7. filthy
  8. untidy
Adjective
  • Entrepreneurship or a portfolio of roles feels messier than earning a regular salary because the risk is more visible.
    — Henrik Totterman, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026
  • Many real texts from family members are short, rushed and a little messy.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 5 July 2026
Definition of messy
Adjective
  • Lime clasts are tiny white chunks of limestone that were previously mistaken for evidence of sloppy mixing.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 July 2026
  • The Americans played sloppy and ugly soccer in the first half, and Belgium overwhelmed the home side.
    — Paul Tenorio, New York Times, 8 July 2026
Definition of sloppy
Adjective
  • Interview with the Vampire’s composer Daniel Hart has taken the audience on a wonderfully chaotic journey through different styles of music in The Vampire Lestat.
    — Sabrina Reed, Forbes.com, 6 July 2026
  • The events surrounding the funeral were chaotic, with eight people killed and hundreds injured, according to a report written by the Associated Press news agency at the time.
    — Xiaoqian Lin, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
Definition of chaotic
Adjective
  • Two years later, Swift pushed the bounds of her beauty yet again, pairing a white, deep V-cut gown with a shaggy bob.
    — Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 2 July 2026
  • In most respects the man was unremarkable, just another shaggy head of hair in a sea of skater-boy business casual.
    — Raven Brunner, PEOPLE, 30 June 2026
Definition of shaggy
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
Definition of littered
Adjective
  • Participants with wet but non-wrinkled fingers required significantly more force to maintain the same hold; their hands were working harder to do less.
    — Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026
  • Yellowing leaves can indicate overwatering, while wrinkled leaves can point to underwatering.
    — Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 8 Feb. 2026
Definition of wrinkled
Adjective
  • From shabby apartments to art experiments to filthy needles—with echoes of Patti Smith and Rebecca Makkai—Adler conjures an era of sorrow borne by too many, too young.
    — Hamilton Cain, Time, 7 July 2026
  • A week after Venezuela’s twin earthquakes, doctors warn untreated wounds, filthy shelters and scarce supplies are fueling a looming wave of infections that could claim more lives.
    — Regina Garcia Cano, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
Definition of filthy
Adjective
  • Weeds And Neglected Maintenance Nothing makes a garden look untidy faster than weeds.
    — Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 2 July 2026
  • In the living room, a pilot rearranges an untidy study desk.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 31 May 2026
Definition of untidy

Browse Nearby Words

unjustness
unkempt
unkept
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Cite this Entry

“Unkempt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unkempt. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of unkempt for Spanish Speakers

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