unkempt
/ˌʌnˈkɛmpt/ adjective
Forms uncompt
- adjective (of hair) uncombed, dishevelled.
- adjective (figuratively, by extension) Disorderly; untidy; messy; not kept up. “unkempt bedroom”
- adjective (figurative) Rough; unpolished.
Synonyms
dishevelled slovenly ragged bedraggled blowsy dowdy dowdyish down at heel downgone qualifier draggle-tailed draggled frowsy frumpy grotty grufty grungy hashy mangy mean
Antonyms
Etymology
From earlier unkembed, unkemmed, from Middle English unkempt (“uncombed”), equivalent to un- + kempt. Compare Old Norse úkembdr (uncombed; unkempt"; whence Icelandic ókembdur), German ungekämmt (“unkempt”), Dutch ongekamd. More at kemb.
Webster’s 1913
- adjective Not combed; disheveled; as, an urchin with unkempt hair.
- adjective Fig.; Not smoothed; unpolished; rough.
Etymology [Pref. un- not + kempt, p. p. of kemb.]
Sources: Wiktionary · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “unkempt”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details