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
Most wine lovers know that the word Sauvignon comes from the French word sauvage and the word blanc simply means white, but most people don’t know the reason is because when untrained vines of the variety have a distinctly unkempt appearance.
—
Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 4 Nov. 2024
But, as in these United States, the key question remains whether creeping totalitarianism — from the left and the right — will squeeze everyday people out of their inalienable right to just be their sometimes obnoxious, unkempt, idiosyncratic selves.
—Ed Wallace, New York Daily News, 6 June 2024
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
See all Example Sentences for unkempt 
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.
Articles Related to unkempt
Dictionary Entries Near unkempt
Cite this Entry
“Unkempt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unkempt. Accessed 2 Dec. 2024.
Kids Definition
unkempt
adjective
un·kempt
ˌən-ˈkem(p)t
1
: not combed
2
: lacking in order or neatness : untidy
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share