Definitions

unseemly

[uhn-seem-lee] / ʌnˈsim li /

ADJECTIVE

improper; in bad taste

Synonyms

STRONGEST

inappropriate indecent tawdry undignified untoward

WEAK

cheap coarse crude discreditable disreputable in poor taste inapt incorrect indecorous indelicate inelegant inept malapropos malodorous out of keeping out of place poor raffish rough rowdy rude ruffian unapt unbecoming unbefitting ungodly unrefined unsuitable vulgar wrong

Antonyms

STRONGEST

proper suitable

WEAK

appropriate de rigueur due fitting seemly suited

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.

After unwisely divulging the unseemly conversation to Ruth, Leigh moves to defense: “He’s not an adult. He’s an actor.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 19, 2026

Which also means that the ways this TikTok deal benefits more unseemly actors aren’t earning proper skepticism from the authorities.

From Slate • Jan. 22, 2026

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

After watching clips of both of these incidents, it’s clear they were unseemly.

From Slate • Sep. 17, 2025

Now, sweat, even in unseemly quantities, is nothing new to me.

From "Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America" by Barbara Ehrenreich

Vocabulary lists containing unseemly

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