slovenly

American  

[sluhv-uhn-lee, slov-] / ˈslʌv ən li, ˈslɒv- /

adjective

slovenlier, slovenliest

1. untidy or unclean in appearance or habits.

   Synonyms:

   slatternly, slutty

   Antonyms:

   neat

2. characteristic of a sloven; slipshod.

   slovenly work.

   Synonyms:

   disorderly, loose, careless

   Antonyms:

   careful

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adverb

1. in an untidy, careless, or slipshod manner.

slovenly British  

/ ˈslʌvənlɪ /

adjective

1. frequently or habitually unclean or untidy

2. negligent and careless; slipshod

   slovenly manners

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adverb

1. in a negligent or slovenly manner

Other Word Forms

• slovenliness
  noun

Etymology

Origin of slovenly

First recorded in 1505–15; sloven + -ly

Explanation

Slovenly is what your great aunt Mehitabel might call you if you came to high tea without a necktie. It means "messy or unkempt," but is a word you probably won't hear messy or unkempt people using. Slovenly has meant messy or unkempt since the 1500s, but it had a brief heyday before that of meaning "low or base." This class association remains embedded in the word — someone who uses the word slovenly today is most likely also going to raise his or her pinky while drinking from a cup of tea.

Example Sentences

Q. Slovenly Sister-in-Law: I have a relative who has four children, ages 10 and under, and is pregnant with her fifth baby.

From Slate • Feb. 25, 2013

Slovenly soldiers of all three factions loitered on the porch, sometimes poked their heads curiously through the glassless windows.

From Time Magazine Archive

His nature was a tumultuous decoction of these three with defiant Ajax, malicious Slovenly Peter, vituperative H. L. Mencken and a violent superman complex superadded.

From Time Magazine Archive

Slovenly, careless, and indifferent work is dishonest and untruthful; the man who is content to do less than the best he is capable of doing for any kind of compensation—money, reputation, influence—is an immoral man.

From Essays on Work and Culture by Mabie, Hamilton Wright

Slovenly chap," growled the father with great irritation, "my word, if I were near enough I'd larn thee to put on the reet mak' o' clooes of a Club Day!

From North, South and over the Sea by Francis, M.E. (Mrs. Francis Blundell)