UNSTYLISH Synonyms: 86 Similar and Opposite Words

unstylish

adjective

ˌən-ˈstī-lish

Definition of unstylish

as in inappropriate

marked by an obvious lack of style or good taste chose a bizarrely unstylish hairstyle for the Halloween party

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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 unstylish Hoka Women’s Kaha 2 GTX Waterproof Hiking Boots Hiking boots don’t need to be frumpy and unstylish—just look at this adorable pair that’s now up to 59 percent off just in time for the Fourth of July. — Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 5 July 2025 The piece is an antique that wasn't fashionable for many decades, but many jewels once considered fussy or unstylish have now been embraced again. — Stephanie Petit, Peoplemag, 8 Dec. 2023 Slippery soles, cold toes, and unstylish footwear should be avoided at all costs. — Roxanne Adamiyatt, Town & Country, 29 Dec. 2022 The alternative of using a single mirror would require a thick lens—resulting in bulky, unstylish AR glasses. — Ari Grobman, Forbes, 19 July 2022

Recent Examples of Synonyms for unstylish

Adjective

Parental Controls for Shared Devices Parents can restrict access to adult and inappropriate content, which helps when kids use the same phones, tablets, or laptops.

— StackCommerce Team, PC Magazine, 19 Oct. 2026
Val Chmerkovskiy has been suspended from Dancing with the Stars for one week after making an inappropriate comment toward one of the judges last week.

— Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of inappropriate

Adjective

Chemically straightened Afro hairstyles had gone from being the default to increasingly unfashionable.

— Ata-owaji Victor, Vogue, 13 Oct. 2026
The dressing room—with its old Persian rug and deeply unfashionable mahogany desk—is just wrong enough to be, well, cool.

— Plum Sykes, Architectural Digest, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of unfashionable

Adjective

At one unsuitable Gramercy apartment, Taylor encountered Cam Armand, a salesperson on the Kota team at Compass, and the Folwells enlisted his help.

— Joyce Cohen, New York Times, 15 Oct. 2026
In a setting designed to make exceptional yachts desirable, explaining why a particular vessel is unsuitable requires commercial discipline.

— Christoph Lymbersky, Forbes.com, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of unsuitable

Adjective

The reality, of course, is that the Southern accent is not some incorrect version of a national standard but instead a historically separate and unique dialect – or, more accurately, set of dialects.

— Valerie M. Fridland, The Conversation, 20 Oct. 2026
And Ballmer and the Clippers remain adamant the penalties—and the allegations of misconduct—are incorrect.

— Joshua Hong, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of incorrect

Adjective

Plush carpeting, touches of turquoise in a largely eggshell-forward palette, tasteful landscape paintings that border on abstract, and spacious private balconies make up the subtle suite design, allaying any worries of dowdy beach resort decor.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 Oct. 2026
Get rid of that dowdy old boob light for good and hang any of these beautiful alternative light fixtures instead.

— Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of dowdy

Adjective

Its argument is that insurers have been pricing wildfire risk the wrong way, by looking backward at statistics and sorting homes by zip code.

— Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 15 Oct. 2026
The trailer begins as Ziegler’s Mae frantically asks family friend Benny, played by a sleepy Rob Lowe, for help after her big mistake — kissing the wrong brother between Graham Phillips’ Andrew and Elias Kacavas’ Theo.

— Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of wrong

Adjective

Holzinger jumps into the tank, her movements inelegant and panicked, and pulls Nüganen out.

— Lauren Oyler, New Yorker, 20 July 2026
One of the more revealing patterns to emerge from the category is something known as zebra striping, a perhaps inelegant term, but a quick phrase to show the shift in highly intelligent consumer behaviour.

— Kate Hardcastle, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026

Definition of inelegant

Browse Nearby Words

unstuffy

unstylish

unsubdued

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“Unstylish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unstylish. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of unstylish

adjective

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