slov ‧ en ‧ ly /ˈslʌv ə nli/ BrE AmE adjective
[ Date: 1500-1600 ; Origin: sloven 'dirty messy person' (15-21 centuries) , probably from Flemish sloovin 'woman of bad character' ]
lazy, untidy, and careless:
slovenly habits
a large slovenly woman
a slovenly way of speaking
—slovenliness noun [uncountable]
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THESAURUS
■ person
▪ untidy British English an untidy person does not do things in a neat way, for example they leave things lying around instead of putting them back in the correct place. Also used about someone's appearance, when they do not comb their hair, take care of their clothes etc:
She was always very untidy – her clothes lay on the floor where she had dropped them.
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He had obviously been sleeping; his hair was untidy and his chin unshaven.
▪ messy untidy or dirty. American people use this word instead of untidy . British people use this word, but it sounds less formal than untidy :
You've made my hair all messy.
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a messy eater
▪ scruffy British English wearing old and untidy clothes:
My parents think I look scruffy in these jeans, but I like them.
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She’s wearing that scruffy old sweater again.
▪ slovenly especially written untidy and lazy:
The servants were old and slovenly.
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his slovenly appearance
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The work was done in a slow, slovenly way.
▪ bedraggled used when someone looks untidy because they have got wet or dirty:
A rather bedraggled crowd waited outside in the pouring rain.
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The children walked along the path, looking miserable and bedraggled.
▪ dishevelled British English , disheveled American English if someone's hair or clothes look dishevelled, they look untidy, for example because they have just been in bed or in a windy place:
Her hair was uncombed and her clothes were dishevelled.
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a dishevelled old man
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The singer was photographed looking ill and dishevelled.
▪ unkempt especially written if someone has unkempt hair or an unkempt appearance, they look untidy and have not been taking care of the way they look:
a rough-looking youth with long black unkempt hair
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The man looked tired and unkempt.
▪ slob noun [countable] informal someone who is extremely untidy but does not seem to care that they are:
Jo’s such a slob – how can you live like that?
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If you keep dressing like a slob, no one’s ever going to ask you for a date.