unkempt
Untidy and not looked after.
unkempt in a sentence
- His unkempt hair stuck out in all directions, as if he had slept in a hedge.
- The empty cottage's garden was unkempt, with waist-high weeds and roses growing wild.
Try an 11+ style question
Verbal reasoning papers often ask about a word like this.
Which word is closest in meaning to unkempt?
- Amessy
- Bneat
- Ctidy
- Dsmart
Show the answer
A: messy. The other three mean the opposite of unkempt.
Which word is most nearly opposite in meaning to unkempt?
- Aneat
- Bdishevelled
- Cmessy
- Dscruffy
Show the answer
A: neat. The other three mean nearly the same as unkempt.
Words that mean something similar
messy, scruffy, dishevelled
Words that mean the opposite
neat, tidy, smart
More words about appearance & looks
- unscathed: Not harmed or damaged at all.
- vibrant: Full of life, energy or bright colour.
- vivid: So bright or clear that it feels real.
- wondrous: So wonderful that it fills you with amazement.
- youthful: Seeming young, fresh and full of energy.
- adorn: To decorate something to make it look prettier.
- bedraggled: Wet, muddy and messy-looking.
- bland: Plain and boring, without much taste or interest.
More words to explore
Sitting the 11+ in Kent, Medway or Buckinghamshire?
Plain-English guides to each test, from the councils’ own pages: Kent Test · Medway Test · Bucks Secondary Transfer Test