dishevelled

/ dɪˈʃɛvəld /

adjective

1. (esp of hair) hanging loosely
2. (of general appearance) unkempt; untidy

Word History and Origins

Origin of dishevelled¹

C15 dischevelee, from Old French deschevelé, from des- dis- ¹+ chevel hair, from Latin capillus

Example Sentences

Slow Horses focuses on the agents who have been discarded or are in trouble with the British Secret Service, and have been left to rot at Slough House, an establishment run by Oldman’s Jackson Lamb, a character so shabby and dishevelled, that the actor has given a lot of thought to how he smells.

From BBC

His background - a teacher, a football coach, an Army National Guard enlisted soldier - broadcasts "meat-and-potatoes middle America", as does perhaps his balding, rotund, slightly dishevelled appearance.

From BBC

"He is believed to be more dishevelled than he appears in the photo with longer hair and an unkempt beard," a Met spokesperson said.

From BBC

"As I got closer to them, I noticed they looked a bit dishevelled, a bit dirty, possibly homeless people", Mr Rodgers explained.

From BBC

The 1980s really needed a peg toothed, dishevelled, drunken Irish punk poet in the charts, albeit one who was actually born in Tunbridge Wells.

From BBC