disheveled

especially British, di·shev·elled

[dih-shev-uhld]

adjective

1. hanging loosely or in disorder; unkempt.

   disheveled hair.

2. untidy; disarranged.

   a disheveled appearance.

   Synonyms: sloppy, slovenly, messy

Other Word Forms

• undisheveled adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of disheveled¹

1375–1425; late Middle English discheveled < Old French deschevele, past participle of descheveler to dishevel the hair, equivalent to des- dis- ¹ + -cheveler, derivative of chevel a hair < Latin capillus

Example Sentences

At a party, she met the owner of a disheveled building in Queens, and asked if she could film there before they renovated it.

From Los Angeles Times

There’s no comedy equivalent of Jean Smart’s hilariously blunt mom in this story; instead, Ingelsby trades that tart energy for a transcendent joy accentuating the disheveled humanity of people who could be any of us.

From Salon

Lil Nas X deleted all of his Instagram posts last week, replacing them with a slew of photos and videos from a disheveled apartment.

From Salon

He’s a disheveled figure who drives around town in a tattered van and lives above the rare bookstore that he also happens to own.

From Los Angeles Times

His words reveal a man who knows the world sees him differently from the truth of the flawed, disheveled guy staring back at him from the mirror every morning.

From Salon

Related Words

• bedraggled 
• messy 
• rumpled www.thesaurus.com