unseemly
Americanadjective
-
not seemly; not in keeping with established standards of taste or proper form; unbecoming or indecorous in appearance, speech, conduct, etc..
an unseemly act; unseemly behavior.
- Synonyms:
- inappropriate, unbefitting
-
inappropriate for time or place.
an unseemly hour.
adverb
adjective
-
not in good style or taste; unbecoming
-
obsolete unattractive
adverb
Related Words
See improper.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of unseemly
Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300; see origin at un- 1, seemly
Explanation
Something that is inappropriate or unacceptable behavior is unseemly. It's a gentler, somewhat nicer word for "inappropriate" than its synonyms, the "in" words: "indecent, indecorous, indelicate, inelegant, inept" — well, you get the idea. Knowing that the "un-" prefix turns a word into its opposite, you'll see that unseemly means "not seemly." Let's look at that word (which is related to our verb seem), because it carries the real meaning. Seemly goes back to around 1200, to the Old Norse word soemr, "fitting, becoming." The negative "un-" was added in the early 14th century to denote the opposite meaning. "Seems" to make sense, doesn’t it?
Vocabulary lists containing unseemly
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
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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.
Green co-leader Ross Greer accused opponents of "nasty and unseemly" attacks.
From BBC • May 13, 2026
It only matters to us that Les manages to return Lindy to her former status; his thirst for recognition is represented as pathetic and unseemly.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 8, 2026
These predictions—and still more disturbing ones—both confuse and enrage Oedipus, and lead him to accuse Creon of unseemly ambition and betrayal.
From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 14, 2025
The unseemly fallout between Rodgers and Dermot Desmond spilling into the public domain via Celtic's biggest shareholder's statement was so box office it sucked up most of the oxygen in the wake of Monday's news.
From BBC • Oct. 29, 2025
“My chairs are not made to take such abuse. And young ladies do not sit two to a seat. Do you hear me? Ella! Stop your unseemly laughter.”
From "Ella Enchanted" by Gail Carson Levine
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.
