See More

Some common synonyms of unseemly<\/em> are improper<\/em><\/a>, indecorous<\/em><\/a>, indelicate<\/em><\/a>, and unbecoming<\/em><\/a>. While all these words mean \"not conforming to what is accepted as right, fitting, or in good taste,\" unseemly<\/em> adds a suggestion of special inappropriateness to a situation or an offensiveness to good taste.<\/p>

\/\/ remarried with unseemly<\/em> haste<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When could 'improper' be used to replace 'unseemly'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

In some situations, the words improper<\/em><\/a> and unseemly<\/em> are roughly equivalent. However, improper<\/em> applies to a broader range of transgressions of rules not only of social behavior but of ethical practice or logical procedure or prescribed method.<\/p>

\/\/ improper<\/em> use of campaign contributions<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When can 'indecorous' be used instead of 'unseemly'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

While in some cases nearly identical to unseemly<\/em>, indecorous<\/em><\/a> suggests a violation of accepted standards of good manners.<\/p>

\/\/ indecorous<\/em> behavior<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When would 'indelicate' be a good substitute for 'unseemly'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

The synonyms indelicate<\/em><\/a> and unseemly<\/em> are sometimes interchangeable, but indelicate<\/em> implies a lack of modesty or of tact or of refined perception of feeling.<\/p>

\/\/ indelicate<\/em> expressions for bodily functions<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When is it sensible to use 'unbecoming' instead of 'unseemly'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

While the synonyms unbecoming<\/em><\/a> and unseemly<\/em> are close in meaning, unbecoming<\/em> suggests behavior or language that does not suit one's character or status.<\/p>

\/\/ conduct unbecoming<\/em> to an officer<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How does the adjective 'unseemly' differ from other similar words?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

Some common synonyms of unseemly<\/em> are improper<\/em><\/a>, indecorous<\/em><\/a>, indelicate<\/em><\/a>, and unbecoming<\/em><\/a>. While all these words mean \"not conforming to what is accepted as right, fitting, or in good taste,\" unseemly<\/em> adds a suggestion of special inappropriateness to a situation or an offensiveness to good taste.<\/p>

\/\/ remarried with unseemly<\/em> haste<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When could 'improper' be used to replace 'unseemly'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

In some situations, the words improper<\/em><\/a> and unseemly<\/em> are roughly equivalent. However, improper<\/em> applies to a broader range of transgressions of rules not only of social behavior but of ethical practice or logical procedure or prescribed method.<\/p>

\/\/ improper<\/em> use of campaign contributions<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When can 'indecorous' be used instead of 'unseemly'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

While in some cases nearly identical to unseemly<\/em>, indecorous<\/em><\/a> suggests a violation of accepted standards of good manners.<\/p>

\/\/ indecorous<\/em> behavior<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When would 'indelicate' be a good substitute for 'unseemly'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

The synonyms indelicate<\/em><\/a> and unseemly<\/em> are sometimes interchangeable, but indelicate<\/em> implies a lack of modesty or of tact or of refined perception of feeling.<\/p>

\/\/ indelicate<\/em> expressions for bodily functions<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When is it sensible to use 'unbecoming' instead of 'unseemly'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

While the synonyms unbecoming<\/em><\/a> and unseemly<\/em> are close in meaning, unbecoming<\/em> suggests behavior or language that does not suit one's character or status.<\/p>

\/\/ conduct unbecoming<\/em> to an officer<\/p>" } } ] }

unseemly 1 of 2

adjective

ˌən-ˈsÄ“m-lÄ“ How to pronounce unseemly (audio)
Definition of unseemlynext
as in inappropriate
not appropriate for a particular occasion or situation an unseemly interest in their host's income and expenses

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

unseemly

2 of 2

adverb

as in inappropriately

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective unseemly differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of unseemly are improper, indecorous, indelicate, and unbecoming. While all these words mean "not conforming to what is accepted as right, fitting, or in good taste," unseemly adds a suggestion of special inappropriateness to a situation or an offensiveness to good taste.

remarried with unseemly haste

When could improper be used to replace unseemly?

In some situations, the words improper and unseemly are roughly equivalent. However, improper applies to a broader range of transgressions of rules not only of social behavior but of ethical practice or logical procedure or prescribed method.

improper use of campaign contributions

When can indecorous be used instead of unseemly?

While in some cases nearly identical to unseemly, indecorous suggests a violation of accepted standards of good manners.

indecorous behavior

When would indelicate be a good substitute for unseemly?

The synonyms indelicate and unseemly are sometimes interchangeable, but indelicate implies a lack of modesty or of tact or of refined perception of feeling.

indelicate expressions for bodily functions

When is it sensible to use unbecoming instead of unseemly?

While the synonyms unbecoming and unseemly are close in meaning, unbecoming suggests behavior or language that does not suit one's character or status.

conduct unbecoming to an officer

How does the adjective unseemly differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of unseemly are improper, indecorous, indelicate, and unbecoming. While all these words mean "not conforming to what is accepted as right, fitting, or in good taste," unseemly adds a suggestion of special inappropriateness to a situation or an offensiveness to good taste.

remarried with unseemly haste

When could improper be used to replace unseemly?

In some situations, the words improper and unseemly are roughly equivalent. However, improper applies to a broader range of transgressions of rules not only of social behavior but of ethical practice or logical procedure or prescribed method.

improper use of campaign contributions

When can indecorous be used instead of unseemly?

While in some cases nearly identical to unseemly, indecorous suggests a violation of accepted standards of good manners.

indecorous behavior

When would indelicate be a good substitute for unseemly?

The synonyms indelicate and unseemly are sometimes interchangeable, but indelicate implies a lack of modesty or of tact or of refined perception of feeling.

indelicate expressions for bodily functions

When is it sensible to use unbecoming instead of unseemly?

While the synonyms unbecoming and unseemly are close in meaning, unbecoming suggests behavior or language that does not suit one's character or status.

conduct unbecoming to an officer

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of unseemly
Adjective
Traditionally, there is a bright line between journalism and activism; choosing to cross that line felt unseemly. —Robert Moor, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026 More unseemly or even criminal material may well come out. —Gilad Edelman, The Atlantic, 7 Feb. 2026
Adverb
Perhaps the National Women’s Soccer League will find the behind-the-scenes play for White Stadium unseemly and give Boston Unity’s expansion bid the cold shoulder. —Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 26 Feb. 2025 The team that lands Sasaki likely will back out of those commitments without hesitation, no matter how unseemly that practice might appear. —Ken Rosenthal, The Athletic, 5 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for unseemly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unseemly
  1. inappropriate
  2. inappropriately
  3. unsuitable
  4. improperly
  5. improper
  6. incongruously
  7. wrong
  8. wrongly
Adjective
  • Making matters worse, the Blueprint is wholly inappropriate for many of Maryland’s counties.
    — Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 26 Mar. 2026
  • As City Hall contracted with Washington’s organization, emails detailing allegations of inappropriate behavior followed, The Star found.
    — Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 25 Mar. 2026
Definition of inappropriate
Adverb
  • Authorities said that the now-14-year-old girl told law enforcement that Duggar allegedly touched her inappropriately on several occasions during a family vacation in Panama City Beach in 2020.
    — Matt Lavietes, NBC news, 20 Mar. 2026
  • Members of both parties have criticized the Justice Department's handling of the files' release, arguing that some files were inappropriately withheld or excessively redacted.
    — Joe Walsh, CBS News, 19 Mar. 2026
Definition of inappropriately
Adjective
  • The disease causes bitter, misshapen fruit unsuitable for sale or eating; infected trees eventually die, according to the CDFA.
    — Regina Elling, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Mar. 2026
  • So many clubs have fallen victim to unsuitable ownership and abject mismanagement, dragged down far beyond their natural level.
    — Oliver Kay, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2026
Definition of unsuitable
Adverb
  • Meanwhile, 11 eateries received citations for health code violations including pink slime, using a household-grade rice cooker and improperly thawing raw baby octopus.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 20 Mar. 2026
  • The preliminary ruling reversed a year of the committee’s work, which the judge concluded had been carried out improperly.
    — Chelsea Cirruzzo, STAT, 20 Mar. 2026
Definition of improperly
Adjective
  • The law must be strengthened further to ensure that, in the future, gross negligence, reckless storage of remains and even improper co-mingling of remains can be criminally charged from the onset, and carry real sentences with the potential for actual jail time.
    — Vaughan Bagley, Baltimore Sun, 22 Mar. 2026
  • According to Kinney, some of the ways the shoreline is negatively impacted is through improper foot traffic.
    — Talia McWright, Twin Cities, 21 Mar. 2026
Definition of improper
Adverb
  • What remains is an incongruously passive and intense ride that feels eerily algorithmic throughout.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 23 Jan. 2026
  • Every surreal interaction, every drab office, every incongruously adoring wife is another turn through the same loop.
    — Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2025
Definition of incongruously
Adjective
  • As another election approaches, millions of Floridians can prove just how wrong DeSantis was.
    — Steve Bousquet, Sun Sentinel, 21 Mar. 2026
  • On isolated occasions a carp has been spotted on the wrong side of the electrical barrier.
    — Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 21 Mar. 2026
Definition of wrong
Adverb
  • In a brief order, Manhattan Federal Judge Kevin Castel said the prosecutor’s office must also inform ICE officials, the agency’s legal team, and others to preserve all past, present and future communications about a May 2025 memo wrongly used to justify arresting people in immigration courts.
    — Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 26 Mar. 2026
  • Attorney Brock Hunter said Lewis, his client, was wrongly swept up in this situation and that this was a case of mistaken identity.
    — Ubah Ali, CBS News, 24 Mar. 2026
Definition of wrongly

Browse Nearby Words

unseemliness
unseemly
unseen
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Unseemly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unseemly. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on unseemly

Nglish: Translation of unseemly for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of dross

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Are You Misusing These 10 Common Words?

5 Verbal Slip Ups and Language Mistakes

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

12 Words for Signs of Spring

The Opposite of Déjà Vu

The Words of the Week - Mar. 27

Why do we call it a 'pipe dream'?

Why do we call it a 'flea market'?
See More

Popular

See More

Are You Misusing These 10 Common Words?

12 Words for Signs of Spring

The Opposite of Déjà Vu
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
little boy with a magnifying glass looking at footprints
Quiz: Spot the Misspelled Word! Think you can detect a spelling error from a mile...
See All