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unbecoming

unbecoming

15 6.7
Not suitable for a situation or for what people expect
  • adjective
  • /ˌʌnbɪˈkʌmɪŋ/
  • Formal
translation icon : impropio
  • What took more than a century to "become" is "unbecoming," or becoming something distinct very quickly.

They were seeing her anger as bossy and unbecoming.

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Examples

  • Some people might find that conduct unbecoming of an officer of the court.

  • Coughlin said they were "disrespectful, selfish, and their behavior was unbecoming of a professional football player."

  • Conduct unbecoming of an officer."

  • Nobody wants to run, shout, or make an unbecoming move.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • It's unbecoming of you, the Sanada North High Student Council President.

  • I think this is simply a childish fit and is unbecoming of a professor.

    Blog text (4)
  • It's so very unbecoming I can hardly tolerate her company at the breakfast table.

  • According to the school handbook, that kind of unbecoming behaviour is grounds for disqualification.

  • According to the school handbook, that kind of unbecoming behaviour is grounds for disqualification.

Synonyms

inappropriate
vsunbecoming
354 3.7

Not right for a situation or event

is the same unsuitability but focused on social acceptability
unacceptable
vsunbecoming
256 3.2

Not good enough or not allowed by rules

emphasizes social impropriety rather than general failure to meet standards
out of line
vsunbecoming
160 4.5

Behaving in a way that is not acceptable to others

is a general term for being improper in behavior or appearance
improper
vsunbecoming
100 4.1

Not suitable according to normal rules or standards

centers on social or proper appearance rather than legal or moral rules
not acceptable
vsunbecoming
44 2.2

Not allowed by rules and not good enough for standards

is about social inappropriateness rather than formal prohibition
unseemly
vsunbecoming
33 7.8

Not proper or polite for a situation

covers general unsuitability rather than specifically indecent cases
objectionable
vsunbecoming
31 6.7

Causing people to feel offended or want to protest

refers more broadly to unsuitability, not only causing offense
untoward
vsunbecoming
  • Formal
16 8.9

Not proper or polite and likely to cause trouble

focuses on being socially unsuitable rather than causing problems
undignified
vsunbecoming
11 4.7

Appearing or behaving in a way that makes people lose respect

is about being improper rather than specifically losing respect
uncouth
vsunbecoming
  • Offensive
10 8.4

Not polite or well behaved in a rough way

is broader, covering many kinds of social unsuitability
uncivil
vsunbecoming
9 6.0

Not polite and rude to other people

covers broader unsuitability beyond sheer rudeness
ill-mannered
vsunbecoming
5 3.9

Rude and impolite in how someone talks or acts

is broader, covering unsuitability beyond mere manners
ungracious
vsunbecoming
4 6.7

Rude and not polite or kind

is a wider term for actions that break social rules
indecorous
vsunbecoming
  • Formal
1 9.2

Not showing good manners in public or formal places

is more general about being unsuitable than just tastelessness
ungentlemanly
vsunbecoming
1 7.0

Rude or unfair behavior that shows little respect for others

is a general term for unsuitability beyond that specific code
unmannerly
vsunbecoming
1 6.3

Not polite and often rude to others

is the general label for anything inappropriate in conduct or looks
ungallant
vsunbecoming
1 9.1

Not polite or kind to other people

is the general notion of being unsuitable, not only discourtesy
unchivalrous
vsunbecoming
1 8.6

Not polite or kind to someone in a social situation

is broader, including many forms of social inaptness
infelicitous
vsunbecoming
  • Formal
1 9.1

Unsuitable for a situation that makes people feel uncomfortable

is centered on violation of accepted standards rather than awkwardness
uncomely
vsunbecoming
  • Archaic
9.6

Not proper in dress or behavior in polite company

is the broader label for behavior or looks that violate accepted standards
unbefitting
vsunbecoming
  • Formal
7.2

Not suitable for a person or situation

is the wider idea of being generally improper or unsuitable
ungenteel
vsunbecoming
  • Archaic
9.9

Not polite and not showing good manners

focuses on general inappropriateness not only on lack of refinement

Antonyms

596 2.2

Suitable and correct for a particular situation or use

172 1.8

Right for a certain purpose, person, or situation

becoming
  • Formal
4.6

Suitable and proper for a situation

How Unbecoming

disgraceful
46 3.0
indecent
  • NSFW
43 6.7
unbecoming
  • Formal
15 6.7
inappropriate
354 3.7
improper
100 4.1

Surface Forms

unbecoming positive
unbecominger comparative
unbecomingest superlative

Morphology

unbecoming = becoming (transparent) = un + becoming

Formed by the productive negating prefix 'un-' attached to the adjective 'becoming', so the meaning 'not appropriate/attractive' is predictable.

Etymology

Unbecoming is made of un- meaning 'not' and becoming (from become) which once meant 'to be fitting' or 'to look right'. So something unbecoming is 'not fitting' for a person or situation, which is why it means 'not proper' or 'unsuitable'.