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untidily

untidily

1 3.4
In a messy way that is not neat
  • adverb
  • /ʌnˈtaɪdɪli/
translation icon : desordenadamente
  • He returned dragging, I swear, fishing tackle, which he unloaded untidily in our midst.
  • hair hung untidily

Examples

  • In addition, he was wearing a pair of torn and patched breeches and his puttees were wound most untidily.

  • He tossed his clothes untidily on the floor, making the room look messy.

  • "She pulled him outside into an untidily swept courtyard of sorts.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • You should know," said Bulkin, whose long hair hung untidily around his neck.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • Evidently, it shows a woman of large proportions, with plenty of fat about the shoulders, and the skirt is untidily arranged, which is most unusual.

    Academic text (2000)
  • Her long, dark red hair tended to hang untidily in her eyes and annoy her, so she had pulled it back and secured it with a rubber band.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • In addition, he had on a pair of torn and patched breeches and his puttees were wound most untidily.

  • The people leave together, rushing untidily up the dune, barefoot and heavy, the imprints of the balls of the foot deep, heels hardly touching the sand at all.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • The leaves were scattered untidily across the lawn after the storm.

  • The artist's studio was filled with brushes and paints left untidily on the table.

Synonyms

haphazardly
vsuntidily
9 6.1

In a way that is not planned or organized

is about being messy or not neat rather than random action
sloppily
vsuntidily
5 2.9

In a careless, untidy way that makes things messy

describes messiness without necessarily implying carelessness
messily
vsuntidily
1 1.4

In a messy way that leaves food or paint everywhere

is the common adverb for that same messy, disordered manner
higgledy-piggledy
vsuntidily
  • Informal
1 9.9

In a messy, mixed-up way with things in no order

refers to messiness without the intense chaotic image
shambolically
vsuntidily
  • UK
8.4

In a messy, disorganized way

is similar but implies less extreme chaos and confusion
higgledy
vsuntidily
  • Informal
9.9

In a messy, untidy way

covers general messiness rather than only jumbled arrangement
unsystematically
vsuntidily
6.9

A way of acting that has no order or plan

focuses more on visual untidiness than absence of a system
nonsystematically
vsuntidily
8.0

Without a plan or clear order

emphasizes messy appearance rather than lack of planning
disjointedly
vsuntidily
7.3

In a way that is not connected and is hard to follow

relates to untidiness in looks rather than broken coherence

Antonyms

93 1.0

To do something in a tidy and careful way

2 1.6

In a neat and organized way

How Tidy

tidily
2 1.6
untidily
1 3.4
messily
1 1.4

Surface Forms

untidily positive

Morphology

untidily = untidy (transparent) = un + tidy + ly

Standard adverb formation by adding '-ly' to the adjective 'untidy', producing an adverb meaning 'in a not tidy manner'.

Etymology

Untidily is made of un- 'not', tidy 'neat or in order', and -ly 'in a way', so it means 'in a not neat or messy way'.