blowsy

adjective

ˈblau̇-zē How to pronounce blowsy (audio)
variants also blowzy
Definition of blowsynext
as in sloppy
lacking neatness in dress or person a large, blowsy woman in frumpy clothes runs the diner

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 blowsy In the final scene, the one female regular at the Royal, a blowsy barfly well played by Barbara Lowing, is moving toward the bar as Hanna and Liv move decisively in the other direction. — Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2023 The queen of Playland was Laughing Sal, a tall, blowsy figure of fun, with a maniacal laugh. — Carl Nolte, San Francisco Chronicle, 23 Mar. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blowsy
  1. sloppy
  2. shaggy
  3. messy
  4. slovenly
  5. unkempt
  6. untidy
  7. dowdy
Adjective
  • The latest: The Cavs looked sloppy and tired at points this week, but still gutted out comeback wins against Miami, Charlotte and Brooklyn.
    — Sam Allard, Axios, 12 Mar. 2025
  • There’s also the possibility that when you get fatigued, your muscles may not be as able to fully support your knee, and your footwork can get sloppier, making the possibility of an awkward twist all the more likely.
    — Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025
Definition of sloppy
Adjective
  • Close on either side were eerie woods flooded with shallow swamp water, the trees’ shaggy trunks festooned with air plants and the occasional ghost orchid.
    — Stanley Stewart, Travel + Leisure, 17 Mar. 2025
  • Natasha Lyonne, who’s back as shaggy amateur detective Charlie Cale, was floored watching Erivo dip in and out of so many roles, which include a DJ, a professor, an artist, and an apple picker.
    — Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY, 17 Mar. 2025
Definition of shaggy
Adjective
  • Orlando took the helm of the memorial effort in late 2023 amid the messy collapse of the private onePulse foundation.
    — Stephen Hudak, Orlando Sentinel, 13 Mar. 2025
  • Ever since, Kim and Kroy have gone back and forth, making accusations against one another in the messy proceedings.
    — Liza Esquibias, People.com, 12 Mar. 2025
Definition of messy
Adjective
  • Slough House is headed by the slovenly, flatulent, and frequently intoxicated Jackson Lamb (Gary Oldman), who routinely heaps verbal abuse on his staff but is nonetheless a brilliant spymaster in his own smelly way.
    — Ars Technica, Ars Technica, 24 Dec. 2024
  • Corruption within the organization, after all, is as much a part of the show as Jackson Lamb’s slovenly habits and horrible diet.
    — Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2024
Definition of slovenly
Adjective
  • Most wine lovers know that the word Sauvignon comes from the French word sauvage and the word blanc simply means white, but most people don’t know the reason is because when untrained vines of the variety have a distinctly unkempt appearance.
    — Mike DeSimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 4 Nov. 2024
  • But, as in these United States, the key question remains whether creeping totalitarianism — from the left and the right — will squeeze everyday people out of their inalienable right to just be their sometimes obnoxious, unkempt, idiosyncratic selves.
    — Ed Wallace, New York Daily News, 6 June 2024
Definition of unkempt
Adjective
  • Where Olive is messy, untidy, and unconcerned about the state of her apartment, Florence is obsessively clean, tidy, and obsessed with hygiene.
    — Kay Johnson, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025
  • Without easy access, harder to reach shelves can get overlooked (and become untidy).
    — Jordan Goldberg, Architectural Digest, 3 Jan. 2025
Definition of untidy
Adjective
  • Memorably dowdy fashion notwithstanding, the juicy role — part Nurse Ratched, part Jack Torrance — launched Bates into the Hollywood ether following years of false starts.
    — EW Staff, EW.com, 2 Mar. 2025
  • Jane and Kit stand on either side, looking dowdy in black dresses and veils (not really an Irish thing).
    — Cullen Murphy, airmail.news, 15 Feb. 2025
Definition of dowdy

Browse Nearby Words

blowsy
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Blowsy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blowsy. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

More Commonly Misspelled Words

Words You Always Have to Look Up
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Top 10 Sophisticated Insults

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden

More Words with Remarkable Origins

Terroir, Oenophile, & Magnum: Ten Words About Wine

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments
See More

Popular Features

See More

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Top 10 Sophisticated Insults

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
dog-in-disguise
Rhyme Disguise Quiz Pair up words that look different but sound alike.
See All