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unstylish

unstylish

1 3.7
Not fashionable or elegant in appearance
  • adjective
  • /ʌnˈstaɪlɪʃ/
translation icon : poco elegante
  • The fact that we in Britain only have unstylish "semi-literate football thugs" speaking out is more to do with the complete moral cowardice.

Examples

  • The nap of her coat felt thin, the coat itself unstylish, and when he looked at Zelda's face, it seemed he himself was twenty-four years old, but that she had aged at a speed and in a dimension foreign to him.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • The securitron on duty at the main gate glanced uneasily at her hastily tied turban and unstylish shift, but the mention of her name brought him instantly to attention.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • 1. Boy names with unstylish elements, such as "bert" and "stan."

    Blog text (12)
  • "Why are the poor always so unstylish?" she says, commenting about his outdated bell-bottom trousers.

    Academic text (1990)
  • Ilyich might not possess charm, such as one values in a dinner guest or pinochle partner, but he has charisma in spite of his unstylish clothes and muddy shoes.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • The fact that we in Britain only have unstylish "semi-literate football thugs" speaking out is more to do with the complete moral cowardice of you pathetic, do-nothing, middle-class.

    Blog text (23)
  • The fact that we in Britain only have unstylish "semi-literate football thugs" speaking out is more to do with the complete moral cowardice of you pathetic, do-nothing, middle-class "intellectuals."

    Blog text (23)
  • The waiter wore an unstylish uniform that seemed outdated and dull.

  • He felt self-conscious in his unstylish outfit at the party, while everyone else was dressed elegantly.

  • Many teenagers avoid unstylish clothing that doesn't reflect the latest trends.

Synonyms

tacky
vsunstylish
  • Informal
68 4.3

Showy in a cheap way that looks bad

is about simple lack of elegance rather than flashy bad taste
uncool
vsunstylish
  • Informal
40 7.4

Not fashionable or popular and thought boring

is a neutral comment on style rather than social acceptance
unattractive
vsunstylish
37 1.8

Not pleasant to look at or to the senses

is about style and elegance rather than overall physical attractiveness
unfashionable
vsunstylish
8 3.7

Few people wear it now because it is not in style

focuses on lack of style or elegance regardless of trend timing
dowdy
vsunstylish
6 7.1

Plain and old-fashioned in a way that looks unattractive

is the general absence of style rather than the dull tone
inelegant
vsunstylish
5 4.9

Not graceful or pleasing in style

is more specific to fashionability and trendy elegance rather than refinement
unglamorous
vsunstylish
4 5.4

Not attractive or exciting and often plain

is the simpler idea of not being stylish or elegant
styleless
vsunstylish
1 6.0

Having a plain look that is not fashionable

is the everyday judgment focusing on current fashion rather than general style
unstyled
vsunstylish
1 4.3

Plain in appearance because no colors, fonts, or formatting have been applied

covers lack of elegance more than mere plainness of design
unchic
vsunstylish
8.0

Not fashionable or stylish, often plain and old-fashioned

is the more neutral or formal label for the same lack of elegance
unmodern
vsunstylish
6.6

Having an older style that does not follow current fashion

refers broadly to lack of style or elegance without dating it
frumpish
vsunstylish
  • Informal
9.9

Looking plain and out of fashion in a dull way

is broader, applying to any lack of style not only prim oldness
ill-dressed
vsunstylish
5.5

Wearing clothes that look messy or not right for the occasion

is about general lack of style or elegance beyond clothing alone
glamourless
vsunstylish
5.5

Looks plain and not attractive or exciting

emphasizes plainness in style rather than lacking glamour specifically
naf
vsunstylish
  • Slang
9.9

Not fashionable and showing bad taste

is a neutral description of lacking style without slangy tone

Antonyms

165 3.3

Having an attractive, stylish look that shows good taste

85 2.0

Clothes or rooms that look fashionable and attractive

How Stylish

chic
57 3.5
stylish
85 2.0
unstylish
1 3.7
plain
50 2.5
tacky
  • Informal
68 4.3

Surface Forms

unstylish positive

Morphology

unstylish = stylish (transparent) = un + styl + ish

The prefix 'un-' clearly negates the meaning of 'stylish', making it transparent.

Etymology

Unstylish is built from the prefix un- ('not') and style ('fashion' or 'a way of looking'), like in stylist or 'hairstyle'. So unstylish simply means 'not fashionable' or showing little 'good taste'.