UNSEEMLY Synonyms: 153 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

unseemly 1 of 2

adjective

ˌən-ˈsēm-lē

Definition of unseemly

as in inappropriate

not appropriate for a particular occasion or situation an unseemly interest in their host's income and expenses

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

unseemly

2 of 2

adverb

as in inappropriately

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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

Don Marshall, known for his core role on the ABC sci-fi series Land of the Giants, plays the hard-working young professional, who is subjected to an unseemly outpouring of prejudice that the Ingalls family is alone in rebuking. — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 3 July 2026 But her mother, who found it unseemly for a little girl to be swinging such a thing about, chopped it off one night while my mother was asleep. — Esther Yi, New Yorker, 14 June 2026

Adverb

Some riffed on Martin's comment that perhaps something unseemly happened. — Melina Khan, USA Today, 18 July 2025 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 See All Example Sentences for unseemly

Recent Examples of Synonyms for unseemly

Adjective

The Portland Trail Blazers fired new play-by-play television broadcaster Braiden Bell on Thursday when past inappropriate social media posts resurfaced just hours after the team announced his hiring.

— ABC News, ABC News, 2 Oct. 2026
Sheriff’s officials said, investigators as of Thursday had not uncovered evidence indicating Chen had inappropriate physical contact with a child.

— Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of inappropriate

Adverb

No comparison should be made to the insurer's initial offer — which can be inappropriately low for a complex surgical procedure — and the award given to the physician.

— Anna Schecter, CBS News, 7 Oct. 2026
The complaint also says that Merrill advisors inappropriately steered clients toward low-interest Bank of America accounts, resulting in substantial financial losses.

— Chase Jordan October 6, Charlotte Observer, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of inappropriately

Adjective

And the religious character of this language is by no means unsuitable to this project of science that was bathed in biblical metaphors from the get-go—Code name Trinity, to cite just one example.

— Artforum, Artforum, 28 Sep. 2026
Like other foods, bird seed is perishable and will spoil if it’s kept in unsuitable conditions.

— Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 27 Sep. 2026

Definition of unsuitable

Adverb

The judge also found that the government improperly bypassed the usual process for adopting federal regulations.

— Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 7 Oct. 2026
In their original complaint, prosecutors claimed that, between 2017 and 2024, Smith used an army of bots to improperly stream his music millions of times.

— Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of improperly

Adjective

Electrical issues — like faulty wiring, overloaded power strips, and improper extension cord usage — are the leading cause of fatal fires so far this year.

— Lillian Bonsignore, New York Daily News, 4 Oct. 2026
The action comes as Livingston locals raised concerns about the film’s impact on local business — and notably the city’s sole food bank — as well as improper notification about hazardous stunts.

— Payton Turkeltaub, Variety, 4 Oct. 2026

Definition of improper

Adverb

The neighborhood/area A mile and a half away lies the pretty village of Lyndhurst, with its tourist-coaxing fudge shops and pubs, and a Ferrari dealer plonked incongruously among the red brick and timber quaintness.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
Fightland feels incongruously sanitized throughout, without actually being appropriate (or engaging) for all ages.

— Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 30 July 2026

Definition of incongruously

Adjective

British police acknowledged applying for the warrants under the wrong statutory provision, the judge said while stipulating that the misconduct investigation against the king's brother could continue.

— Steve Hendrix, Washington Post, 8 Oct. 2026
Doctors in Tennessee and Republican state senators called for the state to pause executions, because the chances of one going catastrophically wrong were so high.

— Maya Foa, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of wrong

Adverb

Opposing players could have their own grievances as well if they were found to have wrongly missed out on performance bonuses.

— Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 7 Oct. 2026
The woman's attorneys argued that the decision wrongly gives school officials wide latitude to squelch political speech based on their personal ideas of what is vulgar.

— ABC News, ABC News, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of wrongly

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unseemliness

unseemly

unseen

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“Unseemly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unseemly. Accessed 10 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of unseemly

adjective

adverb

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