frumpier; frumpiest
: dowdy, drab: such as
a
: dressed in an unattractive way
He's a frumpy dresser.
That can't be Madonna playing a frumpy '30s-era missionary.Peter Travers
b
of clothing : not attractive : having an old, dull, unflattering, or untidy appearance
wore the same old frumpy sweater
… a dizzy mix of matronly frills, frumpy floral prints, and dotty dots …Flare
Frumpy shoes—those which forsake all suggestiveness in favor of comfort and mobility—are back.Misty White Sidell
Baggy pants, however, can add width and look frumpy.Christina Frank
frumpily adverb
frumpily dressed
frumpiness noun
Their hats are stained with sweat … and their clothes have an agreeable air of frumpiness. Cathy Horyn

Examples of frumpy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Unlike its frumpy counterparts, the body-skimming dress adds intrigue with its ruched bodice, puff sleeves, open back, and side slit. Emily Belfiore, Travel + Leisure, 2 Nov. 2024 Aunt Bee, of course, was the frumpy older relative on The Andy Griffith Show, played by Frances Bavier. Cara Lynn Shultz, People.com, 14 Oct. 2024 Her evolving wardrobe has proven that pregnancy style, while focused on function, need not be frumpy. Christian Allaire, Vogue, 9 Oct. 2024 As the name suggests, the jeans have a slightly oversized design that’s baggy without looking frumpy. Clara McMahon, People.com, 30 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for frumpy 

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1840, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of frumpy was circa 1840

Dictionary Entries Near frumpy

Cite this Entry

“Frumpy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/frumpy. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

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