slovenliness
Americannoun
-
the state or quality of being untidy or unclean in appearance or habits; the character of a slob.
The whole place looks like a junk room, with a general sense of chaos, filth, and slovenliness.
-
a sloppy or slipshod quality, as of work, research, writing, etc..
We’ve come to tolerate a shocking degree of slovenliness and illogic in what passes for educated writing.
Etymology
Origin of slovenliness
First recorded in 1595–1605; slovenly ( def. ) + -ness ( def. )
Vocabulary lists containing slovenliness
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
But Vera, the character, is far more than that, and not just because Blethyn infuses her with such a captivating mix of slovenliness and precision, prickliness and empathy.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 9, 2025
This also speaks to the hollowness that all ideological language contains, to paraphrase Orwell, in its swindles and perversions, its slovenliness and vagueness.
From Salon ● Apr. 16, 2023
Our language “becomes ugly and inaccurate because our thoughts are foolish, but the slovenliness of our language makes it easier for us to have foolish thoughts.”
From Seattle Times ● Feb. 22, 2023
And it seems like our writer’s husband wants to live his slovenly life and be pursued by a woman who is put off by slovenliness.
From Slate ● Jun. 18, 2021
What was taken by outsiders to be slackness, slovenliness or even generosity was in fact a full recognition of the legitimacy of forces other than good ones.
From "Sula" by Toni Morrison
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
