dowdy

¹

[ dou-dee ]

adjective

, dow·di·er, dow·di·est.

1. not stylish; drab; old-fashioned:

   Why do you always wear those dowdy old dresses?

   Synonyms: frumpy

   Antonyms: stylish, fashionable

2. not neat or tidy; shabby.

noun

, plural dow·dies.

1. a dowdy woman.

dowdy

²

[ dou-dee ]

noun

, plural dow·dies.

1. a shortened form of pandowdy.

dowdy

/ ˈdaʊdɪ /

adjective

1. (esp of a woman's dress) drab, unflattering, and old-fashioned

noun

1. a dowdy woman

Derived Forms

• ˈdowdily, adverb
• ˈdowdiness, noun
• ˈdowdyish, adjective

Other Words From

• dowdi·ly adverb
• dowdi·ness noun
• dowdy·ish adjective
• dowdy·ism noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of dowdy¹

1300–50; Middle English doude unattractive woman (of uncertain origin) + -y ¹ or -y ²

Origin of dowdy²

First recorded in 1935–40; short form

Word History and Origins

Origin of dowdy¹

C14: dowd slut, of unknown origin

Example Sentences

It was only for dowdy, boring women, and that women were equal now.

From Freakonomics

Dowdy began showing symptoms of the illness caused by the novel coronavirus late last week and was soon hospitalized.

From Washington Post

These doctors make “conscious uncoupling” sound so groovy that actually being together begins to seem a little dowdy and dull.

From The Daily Beast

The fact that Rice is a dowdy, silver-haired nun plays well in the Court of Public Opinion.

From The Daily Beast

Afterward I told Dowdy I liked that part about the ship of state.

From The Daily Beast

“I need to get some sleep,” Dowdy said abruptly and headed off into one of the bedrooms.

From The Daily Beast

Representative Dowdy had no faith that I would not cruise the lonely roads through the pine forests shouting, “Dowdy drinks!”

From The Daily Beast

High company; among others the Duchess of Albemarle, who is ever a plain homely dowdy.

From Project Gutenberg

Val felt dowdy and dull in her mourning; it was an insult to the fair summer weather to go about in such clothes.

From Project Gutenberg

After eating a few, I offered the rest to a dowdy elderly woman on my left who was munching dry biscuits from a paper bag.

From Project Gutenberg

Not a bad, dowdy little woman—the man a worse stick in the drawing-room than the pulpit, if possible.

From Project Gutenberg

If Clarice, on the other hand, had been asked to describe Mary, she would probably have called her a red-faced dowdy.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• antiquated
• dingy
• drab
• frumpy
• run down
• shabby
• unkempt