UNSEEMLY Synonyms: 153 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

unseemly 1 of 2

adjective

ˌən-ˈsēm-lē

Definition of unseemly

as in inappropriate

not appropriate for a particular occasion or situation an unseemly interest in their host's income and expenses

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

unseemly

2 of 2

adverb

as in inappropriately

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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

Forget about the ill-behaved, performative fans hoping to go viral on TikTok for unseemly behavior. — Fred Katz, New York Times, 14 June 2026 The 15-time European Cup winners have been embarrassed in recent weeks by series of unseemly events. — ABC News, 16 May 2026

Adverb

Some riffed on Martin's comment that perhaps something unseemly happened. — Melina Khan, USA Today, 18 July 2025 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 See All Example Sentences for unseemly

Recent Examples of Synonyms for unseemly

Adjective

Justice Department attorneys have argued that a restraining order would be inappropriate and that the legal challenge was premature, as federal agencies had yet to issue public guidance on how the president's directive would be implemented.

— Kristina Cooke, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026
The morality police, which are often accused of extreme policies, recently announced a statewide ban in Sokoto on the use of DJs at events, as well as inappropriate haircuts, extravagant bridal gifts and playing music on public transport.

— ABC News, ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of inappropriate

Adverb

Before class started, and the teacher had not yet arrived, students may have been clowning around in the room, making jokes, playing pranks, or talking loudly and inappropriately.

— The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 1 Sep. 2026
Acosta-Gonzalez may have acted inappropriately with other athletes, police said.

— Clifford Ward, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of inappropriately

Adjective

Guy acknowledges, though, that this could lead to the level of chaos depicted in a memorable 2009 episode of The Office, where staff show up in an array of unsuitable outfits.

— Chloe Veltman, NPR, 28 Aug. 2026
That could allow geothermal projects to operate in locations that have traditionally been considered unsuitable for geothermal development.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of unsuitable

Adverb

Yust also alleges prosecutorial misconduct, arguing that a prosecutor improperly urged jurors to sentence him more harshly because of the emotional impact of the trial on them.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 2 Sep. 2026
Their discovery drew immediate scrutiny of the owners of the funeral home, who previously operated a south suburban crematory that was shut down in March 2025 after the remains of more than 100 bodies were found improperly stored there.

— Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of improperly

Adjective

The tactic is especially prevalent among the department’s elite Metropolitan Division and anti-gang units, several of which have come under investigation in recent years for failing to document the stops and improper searches.

— Hailey Wang, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026
Green curry, red curry and peanut sauce had to be thrown out as they were improperly stored and held at improper temperatures.

— Joseph Hernandez August 31, Kansas City Star, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of improper

Adverb

Fightland feels incongruously sanitized throughout, without actually being appropriate (or engaging) for all ages.

— Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 30 July 2026
Along beaches that had been stripped of their vegetation, icebergs sat incongruously high on rocks.

— Megan I. Gannon, Scientific American, 6 May 2026

Definition of incongruously

Adverb

But the hostility toward Jews was evident during the Dreyfus affair, which saw Alfred Dreyfus, a Jewish captain in the French army, wrongly convicted of treason in 1894.

— Barbara Spindel, Christian Science Monitor, 2 Sep. 2026
Acting on an emergency appeal from the administration, the court ruled 5-4 that a federal judge wrongly paused the project until a legal fight could be resolved.

— Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of wrongly

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unseemliness

unseemly

unseen

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“Unseemly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unseemly. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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