uncleanly
1 Americanadverb
adjective
adverb
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of uncleanly1
before 950; Old English unclǣnlīce (not recorded in ME). See un- 1, cleanly
Origin of uncleanly2
before 1000; Middle English onclenlich, Old English unclǣnlīc. See unclean, -ly
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.
They were soon removed, partly because of complaints they were being used in an "uncleanly manner".
From BBC • Jan. 16, 2022
The dim flicker of gas, often subdued and debilitated by grim and uncleanly globes, was supplanted by a steady glare, bright and mellow, which illuminated interiors and shown through windows fixed and unwavering.
From Slate • Nov. 22, 2013
As the bedbug prefers an uncleanly environment, he is taboo as a subject of polite conversation.
From Time Magazine Archive
A great contrast is apparent here to the crowded streets and narrow lanes of the uncleanly capital, while the air is undoubtedly remarkable for its healthful and invigorating qualities.
From Equatorial America Descriptive of a Visit to St. Thomas, Martinique, Barbadoes, and the Principal Capitals of South America by Ballou, Maturin Murray
A fusty uncleanly scent of bats and squirrels offended him; and the rough wooden cot with its coarse black blankets was uninviting even to a weary man who longed for repose.
From The Outcaste by Penny, F. E.
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.
