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uncomely

uncomely

9.6
Not proper in dress or behavior in polite company
  • adjective
  • /ʌnˈkʌmli/
  • Archaic
translation icon : inapropiado
  • 23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honorable, upon these we bestow more abundant honor; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.

Examples

  • "I am your dead wife," said Bisint's uncomely ghost, unnecessarily.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • A tall, not uncomely figure, clad in white and gold, returned her gaze and smiled.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • Two blocks from our U-Bahn exit, a dark-skinned, uncomely woman, Latin or Indian, approached Jochen and me, speaking a language we didn't follow.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • His careless manners at the formal dinner were considered uncomely by the guests.

  • Her uncomely outfit drew disapproving looks from the fashion-conscious crowd.

  • The comedian's uncomely jokes were met with awkward silence rather than laughter.

Synonyms

inappropriate
vsuncomely
354 3.7

Not right for a situation or event

covers unsuitability in specific situations rather than social impropriety
indecent
vsuncomely
  • NSFW
43 6.7

Not acceptable in public because it is offensive or sexual

covers general impropriety in polite society without sexual focus
unseemly
vsuncomely
33 7.8

Not proper or polite for a situation

is a broader term for being improper in polite society
untoward
vsuncomely
  • Formal
16 8.9

Not proper or polite and likely to cause trouble

describes wrongness in polite society without implying unexpected trouble
unbecoming
vsuncomely
  • Formal
15 6.7

Not suitable for a situation or for what people expect

refers especially to appearance or manner not matching social standards
uncouth
vsuncomely
  • Offensive
10 8.4

Not polite or well behaved in a rough way

describes social impropriety focused on roughness rather than simple wrongness
indecorous
vsuncomely
  • Formal
1 9.2

Not showing good manners in public or formal places

refers to general improper conduct in polite society
unmannerly
vsuncomely
1 6.3

Not polite and often rude to others

is about being improper in polite society but focuses on rudeness
infelicitous
vsuncomely
  • Formal
1 9.1

Unsuitable for a situation that makes people feel uncomfortable

means improper in polite society rather than causing awkward unhappiness
unmannered
vsuncomely
1 7.2

Not showing good manners toward others

describes improper social behavior without stressing deliberate rudeness
unbefitting
vsuncomely
  • Formal
7.2

Not suitable for a person or situation

applies broadly to improper acts, not only poor fit
ungenteel
vsuncomely
  • Archaic
9.9

Not polite and not showing good manners

marks improper behavior by low refinement rather than formal wrongness

Antonyms

477 2.5

Good enough for a particular use or standard

comely
  • Archaic
1 9.1

Proper and polite in behavior or appearance

How Appropriate

becoming
4.2
proper
596 2.2
appropriate
962 3.5
uncomely
  • Archaic
9.6
improper
100 4.1
unseemly
33 7.8
indecent
  • NSFW
43 6.7

Surface Forms

uncomely positive

Morphology

uncomely = comely (semi-transparent) = un + comely

The negation 'un-' transparently reverses 'comely', but the sense 'not proper or appropriate' depends on an older meaning of 'comely' ('seemly'), so the relation may not be fully clear to modern learners.

Etymology

Uncomely is built from un- 'not' and comely which meant 'suitable' or 'pleasant', much like the word becoming, so uncomely means 'not proper' or 'not fitting'.