frumpy

[ fruhm-pee ]

adjective

, frump·i·er, frump·i·est.

1. frumpish.

frumpy

/ ˈfrʌmpɪʃ; ˈfrʌmpɪ /

adjective

1. (of a woman, clothes, etc) dowdy, drab, or unattractive

Derived Forms

• ˈfrumpiness, noun
• ˈfrumpily, adverb

Other Words From

• frumpi·ly adverb
• frumpi·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of frumpy¹

First recorded in 1740–50; frump + -y ¹

Example Sentences

In another, he says that Triffon’s female friends “look really frumpy and overweight” after seeing a picture of them in swimsuits.

From Time

The fleece half-zip as part of the classic frumpy Dad ensemble!

From Washington Post

More hokey than the inspired objects recalled by the curators: A frumpy teddy bear.

From The Daily Beast

In the novel, Newton takes up with a frumpy, unlettered Kentucky woman well into middle age.

From The Daily Beast

It's like she is in Fashion Jail and only allowed to wear frumpy dated Sloane florals and old lady canary yellow.

From The Daily Beast

But relative next to our toned and styled first lady, it was stodgy and frumpy.

From The Daily Beast

Gabrielle (Eva Longoria) became a frumpy mother of two overweight daughters.

From The Daily Beast

"Do you know, I really liked her better last year, when she was frumpy and dowdy," faltered Dopsy.

From Project Gutenberg

If she had been a stiff, frumpy thing, I just couldn't have paid the least attention to her.

From Project Gutenberg

She has never ceased to talk about the frumpy crowd she met there.

From Project Gutenberg

Men don't marry frumpy, snuffy old things of thirty, or thereabouts.

From Project Gutenberg

I have been a grumpy, frumpy, wayward sort of a woman, a good many years.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• baggy