un·seem·ly
ˌən-ˈsēm-lē 
: not seemly: such as
a
: not according with established standards of good form or taste
unseemly bickering
b
: not suitable for time or place : inappropriate, unseasonable
: in an unseemly manner
Examples of unseemly in a Sentence
Adjective
He spent unseemly amounts of money on himself.
an unseemly interest in their host's income and expenses
Recent Examples on the Web
New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 15 Apr. 2025
Unfortunately, as is the case with many Indigenous groups, Ainu history is one marred by unseemly difficulties and erasure.
—Christina Liao, Vogue, 14 Feb. 2025
Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 26 Feb. 2025
The team that lands Sasaki likely will back out of those commitments without hesitation, no matter how unseemly that practice might appear.
—Ken Rosenthal, The Athletic, 5 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unseemly
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Adjective
Congratulations to Harvard University for fighting back against the Trump administration’s unseemly efforts to use federal dollars to try to exert unwarranted control over higher education.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 15 Apr. 2025
Unfortunately, as is the case with many Indigenous groups, Ainu history is one marred by unseemly difficulties and erasure.
—Christina Liao, Vogue, 14 Feb. 2025
Adverb
Perhaps the National Women’s Soccer League will find the behind-the-scenes play for White Stadium unseemly and give Boston Unity’s expansion bid the cold shoulder.
—Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 26 Feb. 2025
The team that lands Sasaki likely will back out of those commitments without hesitation, no matter how unseemly that practice might appear.
—Ken Rosenthal, The Athletic, 5 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unseemly
Cite this Entry
“Unseemly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unseemly. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.
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