unkempt
adjective
un·kempt
ˌən-ˈkem(p)t 
1
: not combed
unkempt hair
2
: deficient in order or neatness
unkempt individuals
unkempt hotel rooms
Synonyms
Examples of unkempt in a Sentence
She wore rumpled clothing and her hair was unkempt.
an unkempt and cluttered room
Recent Examples on the Web
Weeds can take over in a hurry, choking out lawns and gardens and making landscapes look unkempt.
—
Arricca Elin Sansone, Country Living, 12 July 2023
Some lawns are manicured while others are unkempt.
—Dallas News, 20 Dec. 2022
Wallace’s bob was poker-straight, whereas Emily’s unkempt, messy waves boast plenty of texture.
—Alice Cary, Vogue, 3 Feb. 2023
Armed patrols man the streets, where unkempt survivors take jobs burning the dead and cleaning up waste to scrape by.
—Randall Colburn, EW.com, 16 Jan. 2023
Oh, there's the unkempt west side near Red Bank Avenue, known as the Thickets, where those seeking or selling drugs can sometimes be found after dark, and where there's the occasional mugging, but the Thickets is only three acres of 740.
—Clark Collis, EW.com, 23 Jan. 2023
His unkempt bedroom is nearly a deal-breaker, as are his clumsy attempts at foreplay.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 21 Jan. 2023
Shiny, dark green fronds grow into an unkempt mound reminiscent of Medusa's hair.
—Savanna Bous, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Jan. 2023
And not just any T-shirt and cargo shorts, but what could seem like the baggiest, most stretched out, most slept in, most consciously unflattering T-shirts and shorts; the most unkempt bed-head.
—Vanessa Friedman, New York Times, 13 Dec. 2022
Arricca Elin Sansone, Country Living, 12 July 2023
Some lawns are manicured while others are unkempt.
—Dallas News, 20 Dec. 2022
Wallace’s bob was poker-straight, whereas Emily’s unkempt, messy waves boast plenty of texture.
—Alice Cary, Vogue, 3 Feb. 2023
Armed patrols man the streets, where unkempt survivors take jobs burning the dead and cleaning up waste to scrape by.
—Randall Colburn, EW.com, 16 Jan. 2023
Oh, there's the unkempt west side near Red Bank Avenue, known as the Thickets, where those seeking or selling drugs can sometimes be found after dark, and where there's the occasional mugging, but the Thickets is only three acres of 740.
—Clark Collis, EW.com, 23 Jan. 2023
His unkempt bedroom is nearly a deal-breaker, as are his clumsy attempts at foreplay.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 21 Jan. 2023
Shiny, dark green fronds grow into an unkempt mound reminiscent of Medusa's hair.
—Savanna Bous, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Jan. 2023
And not just any T-shirt and cargo shorts, but what could seem like the baggiest, most stretched out, most slept in, most consciously unflattering T-shirts and shorts; the most unkempt bed-head.
—Vanessa Friedman, New York Times, 13 Dec. 2022
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'unkempt.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Unkempt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unkempt. Accessed 20 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
unkempt
adjective
un·kempt
ˌən-ˈkem(p)t
1
: not combed
2
: lacking in order or neatness : untidy
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