unseemly
- adjective
- /ʌnˈsiːmli/
- It is considered unseemly to discuss private matters in public.
- unseemly behavior
- an unseemly display
- unseemly act
It's pretty clear he was into unseemly type of arms dealing.
- It's pretty clear he was into unseemly type of arms dealing.
- And so we're going to, you know, downplay motivations that are unseemly or subconscious.
- She had a chipped front tooth, but also as if any happiness seeping out was unseemly for the likes of her.
- I'm loud this time of year, unseemly as a Chevron of honking.
Examples
-
These frequent visits from the man you are seeing are unseemly.
-
Gentlemen, gentlemen, this behavior is most unseemly.
-
There is nothing unseemly here.
-
You show an unseemly interest in that house.
-
In those days, it appeared unseemly for a serious man to find so much time for his children.
Academic text (1997) -
It's unseemly, the way that man polices me.
-
You find various kinds of disreputable and maybe unseemly things going on there.
-
It just feels a little unseemly.
-
This is most unseemly.
-
It is unseemly for the spiritual leader of Tibet to spy on people.
Synonyms
Not right for a situation or event
Not good enough or not allowed by rules
Not suitable according to normal rules or standards
Very bad or shocking behaviour that makes people lose respect
Not acceptable in public because it is offensive or sexual
Sexually rude and offensive to many people
Causing people to feel offended or want to protest
Something people think is morally wrong or dishonest
Not proper or polite and likely to cause trouble
Not suitable for a situation or for what people expect
Saying or doing something rude that upsets people
Not showing good manners in public or formal places
Unsuitable for a situation that makes people feel uncomfortable
Not proper in dress or behavior in polite company
Not suitable for a person or situation
Antonyms
How Appropriate
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
Unseemly is made of un- 'not' and seemly, from the verb seem 'to appear proper or fitting'. So, unseemly means 'not fitting' or 'not proper', and we use it for behaviour that does not 'look' right in public.