unseemly 1 of 2

unseemly

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adverb

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective unseemly differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of unseemly are improper, indecorous, indelicate, and unbecoming. While all these words mean "not conforming to what is accepted as right, fitting, or in good taste," unseemly adds a suggestion of special inappropriateness to a situation or an offensiveness to good taste.

remarried with unseemly haste

When could improper be used to replace unseemly?

In some situations, the words improper and unseemly are roughly equivalent. However, improper applies to a broader range of transgressions of rules not only of social behavior but of ethical practice or logical procedure or prescribed method.

improper use of campaign contributions

When can indecorous be used instead of unseemly?

While in some cases nearly identical to unseemly, indecorous suggests a violation of accepted standards of good manners.

indecorous behavior

When would indelicate be a good substitute for unseemly?

The synonyms indelicate and unseemly are sometimes interchangeable, but indelicate implies a lack of modesty or of tact or of refined perception of feeling.

indelicate expressions for bodily functions

When is it sensible to use unbecoming instead of unseemly?

While the synonyms unbecoming and unseemly are close in meaning, unbecoming suggests behavior or language that does not suit one's character or status.

conduct unbecoming to an officer

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of unseemly
Adjective
The question of cancelling the Oscars—of whether the pageantry is unseemly in the face of real-world catastrophe—is one that dates back to the early years of the awards. Michael Schulman, The New Yorker, 22 Jan. 2025 Some sourness is lingering after Trump and his wife launched meme coins, which critics said looked like an unseemly cash grab. Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 22 Jan. 2025
Adverb
However unseemly, Trump’s salacious rendez-vous with Stormy Daniels is not. S.e. Cupp, New York Daily News, 15 May 2024 After leaving office in 2001, Barak undermined his standing by adopting a lavish lifestyle deemed unseemly for a Labor leader. Aluf Benn, Foreign Affairs, 8 June 2016 See All Example Sentences for unseemly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unseemly
Adjective
  • Some praised the Hitch star for looking happy and returning to music, while others said that the onstage moment of attempting to kiss Martinez was inappropriate.
    David Faris, Newsweek, 27 Feb. 2025
  • Doing so discourages inappropriate behavior with clear sanctions that are duly communicated to the entire organization, while good behavior is rewarded.
    Susana Sierra, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Polar research and expeditions were considered inherently masculine endeavors unsuitable for women during the heroic age of Antarctic exploration, which began in 1897 and lasted until 1922.
    Nicole Edenedo, AFAR Media, 3 Mar. 2025
  • When the wildly unsuitable secretary of defense announces there will be 8% cuts in our military budget for each of the next five years, some weapons programs will be reduced or cancelled to meet that goal.
    Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 1 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • After reviewing body camera footage of the incident as part of its internal investigation, the department recommended that the officer receive a two-day suspension for the improper search allegation.
    Libor Jany, Los Angeles Times, 26 Feb. 2025
  • Like the House bill, its text has not yet been released. DEA hearings on the rescheduling proposal have been delayed by at least three months due to appeals from pro-reform witnesses claiming improper communications between the DEA and certain opponents.
    Dario Sabaghi, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Notoriously indifferent to anyone on the wrong side of the 25-54 demo, advertisers eat this stuff up with a spork.
    Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 7 Mar. 2025
  • Recently, inflation has been moving in the wrong direction.
    Alain Sherter, CBS News, 7 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Fixes an issue where certain text hints in combat were incorrect when using a Friend's Support character Trailblazer.
    Ross Rosenfeld, Newsweek, 26 Feb. 2025
  • But a New York Times analysis of the $55 billion in savings claimed by DOGE found that the math is marred with accounting errors, incorrect assumptions, outdated data and other mistakes.
    Talmon Joseph Smith, New York Times, 22 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Some are unhappy with the people executing his vision for a smaller government. 2️⃣ Soccer showcase: The 2026 World Cup is still more than a year away, but there are already big concerns over whether the host country is ready.
    Daniel Wine, CNN, 6 Mar. 2025
  • Independent distributors are unhappy with the growing percentage of royalty payments for their artists that are too low to be worth processing.
    Bill Rosenblatt, Forbes, 6 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Kash Patel is set to become the latest of President Donald Trump‘s unfit and unqualified loyalists confirmed for a leadership role in Washington, with Senate Republicans ready and willing to install the QAnon promoter and 2020 election denier as the next director of the FBI.
    Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 19 Feb. 2025
  • Her letter, which was followed up by a social media post, was withering in making the case that Kennedy was unfit for the role and personal in detailing his struggles with drug addiction.
    Ted Johnson, Deadline, 28 Jan. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Unseemly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unseemly. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on unseemly

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