unkempt

adjective

un·​kempt ˌən-ˈkem(p)t 

1

: not combed

unkempt hair

2

: deficient in order or neatness

unkempt individuals

unkempt hotel rooms

also : rough, unpolished

unkempt prose

Synonyms of unkempt

• messy
• chaotic
• littered
• filthy
• sloppy
• confused
• cluttered
• disheveled

Examples of unkempt in a Sentence

She wore rumpled clothing and her hair was unkempt.

an unkempt and cluttered room

Recent Examples on the Web

With his unkempt hair and ragamuffin clothing — was that a rope holding up his pants? — Josephine Reisman, Vulture, 24 Sep. 2026

Thus far, online commentary has focussed on what the trailer reveals of the sisters’ hair, which is often undone, even unkempt. — Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2026

His voice is raspy, and the once-cleanly cut soul patch that defined his look is scraggly and unkempt. — Levi Weaver, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026

Just across the sidewalk from the West Martello Tower, a Civil War-era fort where the Garden Club is housed, lies an unkempt field of grass, worn out by dehydration and footsteps. — Oliver Wu, Rolling Stone, 1 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English unkemd, unkempt, from un- + kembed, kempt, past participle of kemben to comb, from Old English cemban; akin to Old High German chempen to comb, Old English camb comb — more at comb

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for unkempt

• attempt
• contempt
• exempt
• preempt
• empt
• tempt
• nonexempt

Kids Definition

unkempt

adjective

un·​kempt ˌən-ˈkem(p)t 

1

: not combed

2

: lacking in order or neatness : untidy