unkemptness

7.0

A state when things are untidy and not cared for

noun
/ʌnˈkɛmptnəs/

: desaliño

After weeks of neglect, the room's unkemptness made it uncomfortable to be in.

Examples

And here I am, all bushes and brown rice, general unkemptness, dashiki madness, chicken-bound, weak-kneed.

Fiction book (1997)
Unkemptness and dirtiness; Psychological

Academic text (2011)
His unkemptness showed that he had been busy and didn't have time to tidy up.
The garden's unkemptness was evident, with overgrown weeds and wild flowers everywhere.

Synonyms

sloppiness

vsunkemptness

5 3.7

Careless, untidy behaviour that shows little attention to detail

focuses on neglect and lack of upkeep rather than careless inattention to detail

untidiness

vsunkemptness

1 2.5

Mess and things not in order in a place

focuses more on neglect and absence of care than simple disorder

slovenliness

vsunkemptness

1 8.3

Being untidy, dirty, and careless about clothes or work

is about general neglect rather than dirty personal habits

scruffiness

vsunkemptness

1 4.5

A messy, untidy look or way of dressing that seems careless

refers to lack of care rather than only shabby appearance

Antonyms

neatness

7 1.0

Being tidy and having things in order

tidiness

2 1.4

The habit of keeping things neat and in order

How Tidy

tidiness

2 1.4

unkemptness

7.0

messiness

4 1.6

slovenliness

1 8.3

Surface Forms

unkemptness singular

unkemptnesses plural

Morphology

unkemptness = unkempt (transparent) = un + kempt + ness

Standard nominalization of the adjective 'unkempt' with '-ness'; the negative prefix 'un-' and suffix '-ness' combine predictably.

Etymology

Unkemptness starts with un- meaning 'not' and the part kempt, which is related to 'comb' and once meant 'combed' or tidy. So unkemptness is the state of being 'not combed' or 'untidy'.