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slovenliness

slovenliness

1 8.3
Being untidy, dirty, and careless about clothes or work
  • noun
  • /ˈslʌvənlɪs/
translation icon : desaliño
  • The office's slovenliness was criticized during the team's performance review.
  • such slovenliness

Examples

  • Such slovenliness in one's neighbors is so unpleasant that even husbands and wives in West Vesey Place, which was the street where the Dorsets lived, had gotten to the point where they didn't like to joke about it with each other.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • Of course, her slovenliness, along with the slack behavior and thought connected to it, is the reason for her unhappiness.

    Blog text (17)
  • There's no excuse for slovenliness.

  • On any other day, she would confront his slovenliness.

    Blog text (4)
  • My husband's attitude about my slovenliness is subtly altered.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • There, in the crowd, in the muddle, she seemed like an alien, something put there for contrast to underscore the surrounding squalor and slovenliness.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • For others, the mess of a chaotic and disorganized home or the slovenliness of a frequently inebriated parent may be too embarrassing to risk inviting friends to visit.

    Academic text (1995)
  • The slovenliness of the room made it difficult to find his books and papers.

  • Her slovenliness was evident in her wrinkled clothes and unkempt hair.

Synonyms

squalor
vsslovenliness
20 8.0

Dirty and unpleasant living conditions caused by poverty or neglect

applies to individual carelessness and poor appearance rather than widespread extreme neglect
sloppiness
vsslovenliness
5 3.7

Careless, untidy behaviour that shows little attention to detail

covers similar carelessness but focuses more on appearance and habits
messiness
vsslovenliness
4 1.6

A situation when things are untidy and hard to find

stresses personal carelessness in grooming and habits as a broader quality
uncleanness
vsslovenliness
1 6.0

A state of being dirty and likely to spread disease

adds careless routines and appearance to mere lack of cleanliness
shabbiness
vsslovenliness
1 6.1

A state of looking old, worn, or dirty

is about personal neglect and untidiness rather than only worn look
untidiness
vsslovenliness
1 2.5

Mess and things not in order in a place

is about careless personal appearance and daily habits rather than only order
dirtiness
vsslovenliness
1 1.0

Not being clean because it has mud, dust or stains

covers personal carelessness and untidiness as a general lifestyle feature
sordidness
vsslovenliness
1 8.8

A state of being dirty and morally bad

is mainly about untidiness and careless habits without moral judgement
scruffiness
vsslovenliness
1 4.5

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

is a wider state of habitual neglect, not only surface style
uncleanliness
vsslovenliness
1 5.5

A state when a place or person is dirty and not cared for

includes not being neat or careful in habits as well as cleanliness
filthiness
vsslovenliness
1 4.2

A very dirty state with waste and rubbish

is milder and also includes slovenly habits, not only extreme dirt
mussiness
vsslovenliness
5.7

A state of being messy and untidy

is a stronger personal trait of ongoing neglect rather than a simple rumple
unkemptness
vsslovenliness
7.0

A state when things are untidy and not cared for

describes broader careless living and habits beyond just grooming
disorderliness
vsslovenliness
5.8

A lack of order that makes places or things messy

focuses more on careless personal habits and dirty appearance
unsanitariness
vsslovenliness
9.5

A state in which things are dirty and can make people ill

is about messy or careless appearance and habits, not only health risk
squalidness
vsslovenliness
8.2

Very dirty and unpleasant places caused by poverty or lack of care

is a personal quality of carelessness rather than a whole living condition
scumminess
vsslovenliness
  • Offensive
8.6

A state of being dirty or bad in a moral way, for example a filthy place

is focused on slovenly appearance and careless daily routines instead
sleaziness
vsslovenliness
7.7

Being dirty and shabby in appearance because of old or untidy clothes

stresses careless personal upkeep and habits rather than only poor elegance
manginess
vsslovenliness
8.2

A shabby, dirty look from old, worn clothes

is a broader habit of careless appearance and unkept daily routines

Antonyms

26 1.0

Being free from dirt and keeping things tidy

7 1.0

Being tidy and having things in order

2 1.4

The habit of keeping things neat and in order

How Neat

orderliness
3 3.6
neatness
7 1.0
messiness
4 1.6
slovenliness
1 8.3

Surface Forms

slovenliness singular

Morphology

slovenliness = slovenly (transparent) = sloven + ly + ness

Formed by adding the noun-forming suffix '-ness' to the adjective 'slovenly', yielding the state or quality of being slovenly.

Etymology

Slovenliness comes from sloven, an old word for a lazy, untidy person, plus the ending -liness meaning 'quality'. So slovenliness is the 'quality' of being messy or careless, which is why we use it for untidy habits or looks.