ill-sorted

1 7.1

A group of people or things that do not fit well together

adjective
/ɪlˈsɔrtɪd/

: desordenado

The decorations for the party were ill-sorted, with bright colors clashing with dull ones.

Examples

The ingredients in the salad were ill-sorted, featuring a mix of sweet fruits and bitter greens that didn't blend well.
His ill-sorted collection of books included both ancient texts and modern novels, making it hard to find a theme.
The effect of the declaration on world opinion at the time was limited, and in certain quarters, it was derided as an ill-sorted hodgepodge of ideas and intentions.

Blog text (2)

Synonyms

incompatible

vsill-sorted

43 6.2

Not able to work or be used together without causing a problem

highlights poor combining or lack of harmony instead of active conflict

confused

vsill-sorted

37 1.0

Messy and not in order, with things mixed up

focuses more on how lack of fit causes the confusion

disorganized

vsill-sorted

37 3.1

Not in a clear order or plan

covers poor planning and order rather than deliberate incompatibility

jumbled

vsill-sorted

18 3.8

Mixed together in a confused and untidy way

emphasizes messy mixing rather than only bad matching of parts

disordered

vsill-sorted

12 4.5

Not arranged in a clear or tidy way

covers general lack of order rather than specific mismatch of parts

untidy

vsill-sorted

11 1.0

Not neat, with things like papers or clothes left around

suggests that lack of neatness can cause mismatching of parts

unsuited

vsill-sorted

5 4.3

Not able to go well together

focuses on being mismatched or jumbled rather than mere incompatibility

in a mess

vsill-sorted

5 1.6

Something that is untidy and not in order

highlights jumbling and poor match rather than simple clutter

disorderly

vsill-sorted

1 4.5

A place or thing that is untidy and not in order

adds that messiness can prevent harmonious combining of parts

unsorted

vsill-sorted

1 3.9

Not put in any order

adds that lack of order also causes poor combination or mismatch

unordered

vsill-sorted

1 4.1

Not in any clear order

means absence of order which may produce poor combining or chaos

disarrayed

vsill-sorted

1 5.8

Not neat or in order

implies disorder that also causes poor matching or confusion

unarranged

vsill-sorted

1 4.1

Not put in order and left messy

stresses that missing arrangement can lead to mismatching or jumbling

disarranged

vsill-sorted

1 5.1

Not in order and untidy after being moved

points more to elements that do not fit together harmoniously

mismated

vsill-sorted

1 7.5

Having parts or people that do not go well together

is about general poor matching or chaotic mixing rather than outright impossibility

ununiformed

vsill-sorted

7.5

Not even in look, quality, or amount

centres on poor matching across parts rather than mere disorder

Antonyms

sorted

18 1.8

Put into groups or in a clear order

matched

13 2.6

Going well together because they are similar in style or quality

How Organized

organized

751 2.0

mismatched

16 3.4

ill-sorted

1 7.1

jumbled

18 3.8

chaotic

116 4.7

Surface Forms

ill-sorted positive

Morphology

ill-sorted = sorted (transparent) = ill + sorted

Formed by the productive negative prefix 'ill-' plus the adjective 'sorted', so the meaning 'not well sorted' is directly derived.

Etymology

The word ill-sorted comes from the parts ill- meaning 'not' or 'bad' and sort meaning 'to arrange or group'. So it means 'not well arranged', which is why we use it for things or groups that do not match or look jumbled.