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Meaning & use

unkempt

adjective·Academic

Last updated

UK/ʌnˈkempt/
US/ʌnˈkempt/

Meanings

  1. adjectivecomparable

    Messy and uncared for in appearance, especially of hair, clothes or a person.

    Grammar: Can come before a noun or after a verb: unkempt hair, he looked unkempt.

    Patterns

    • look unkempt

    He arrived with unkempt hair and a crumpled shirt.

    The traveler looked tired and unkempt.

    Her unkempt beard hadn't been trimmed in months.

  2. adjectivecomparable

    Left in a neglected, untidy state, as a garden or building.

    Grammar: Describes places or surroundings that nobody looks after.

    Patterns

    • an unkempt garden

    The unkempt garden was full of weeds.

    An unkempt lawn spoiled the look of the house.

    The unkempt hedges had grown over the path.

Common combinations

unkempt hair
His unkempt hair stuck out in all directions.
an unkempt beard
The old sailor had an unkempt beard.
look unkempt
After the long flight she looked unkempt.
an unkempt garden
They bought a cottage with an unkempt garden.
an unkempt appearance
His unkempt appearance surprised the interviewer.

Synonyms and how they differ

disheveled
Disheveled suggests tidy things have become messy, often from rushing or wind, while unkempt suggests lack of care over time.
scruffy
Scruffy is more informal and can sound a little affectionate.
messy
Messy is the plain everyday word and fits rooms and tasks as well as people.
untidy
Untidy is a mild, general word, less pointed than unkempt about neglect.

Opposites

neattidywell-groomed

Word family

kempt adjective
neatly kept, rare and often humorous
unkemptness noun
the state of being untidy
comb verb
to tidy hair with a comb, the old root of kempt

Commonly confused: unkempt or uncouth? unkempt or unkept?

unkempt vs uncouth

Uncouth describes rude behavior, while unkempt describes untidy looks.

unkempt vs unkept

Unkept is not the standard form; use unkempt for untidy appearance.

Practice

The house had stood empty for years, and its ___ garden was full of weeds.

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