slovenly

American  

[sluhv-uhn-lee, slov-] / ˈslʌv ən li, ˈslɒv- /

adjective

slovenlier, slovenliest

1. untidy or unclean in appearance or habits.

   Synonyms:

   slatternly, slutty

   Antonyms:

   neat

2. characteristic of a sloven; slipshod.

   slovenly work.

   Synonyms:

   disorderly, loose, careless

   Antonyms:

   careful

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adverb

1. in an untidy, careless, or slipshod manner.

slovenly British  

/ ˈslʌvənlɪ /

adjective

1. frequently or habitually unclean or untidy

2. negligent and careless; slipshod

   slovenly manners

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adverb

1. in a negligent or slovenly manner

Other Word Forms

• slovenliness noun

Etymology

Origin of slovenly

First recorded in 1505–15; sloven + -ly

Explanation

Slovenly is what your great aunt Mehitabel might call you if you came to high tea without a necktie. It means "messy or unkempt," but is a word you probably won't hear messy or unkempt people using. Slovenly has meant messy or unkempt since the 1500s, but it had a brief heyday before that of meaning "low or base." This class association remains embedded in the word — someone who uses the word slovenly today is most likely also going to raise his or her pinky while drinking from a cup of tea.

Example Sentences

Plus, as sleepwear styles become more fashionable, it’s hard to think of them as strictly for the slovenly set.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 26, 2026

In that instance, the public were given the chance to choose the overall winner, opting for the term describing "unapologetically self-indulgent, lazy, slovenly or greedy" behaviour.

From Barron's • Dec. 1, 2025

He was a favorite punching bag of the mainstream media, a slovenly suburban Ahab doomed to fail.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 17, 2025

Hannah is as entitled and narcissistic as the others, but slovenly in a way that, for some reason, made her seem . . . what’s the word?

From Salon • Jul. 10, 2025

“My little sister is a creature of slovenly habits,” Jerome said, looking around.

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides