Word
unseemly
Phoneticsun·seem·ly, stress on the second syllable
US/ənˈsimɫi/
UK/ʌnsˈiːmli/
Definition
adj. not suitable or polite for the situation, in a way that looks rude or shocking to other people.
adj. not in keeping with accepted standards of propriety or good taste; inappropriate to the context. Often describes behaviour, dress, or haste that draws social disapproval.
Examples
“They make unseemly jokes during the serious meeting.”
“The neighbours thought it was unseemly to play loud music late at night during the mourning period.”
“The biography notes his unseemly rush to claim the inheritance before the funeral had even taken place.”
Examples
simple
“They make unseemly jokes during the serious meeting.”
contextual
“The neighbours thought it was unseemly to play loud music late at night during the mourning period.”
complex
“The biography notes his unseemly rush to claim the inheritance before the funeral had even taken place.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “unseemly” in context.
Verb
01. appear unseemly
“It would appear unseemly for judges to comment on politics.”
verb + adj
02. become unseemly
“The debate quickly became unseemly when insults replaced arguments.”
verb + adj
03. consider unseemly
“Many voters considered his personal attacks unseemly for a presidential candidate.”
verb + adj
04. deem unseemly
“The court deemed such public comment unseemly during an ongoing trial.”
verb + adj
05. find unseemly
“She found their loud laughter unseemly at a memorial service.”
verb + adj
06. seem unseemly
“It seemed unseemly to haggle over money at a funeral.”
verb + adj
Adjective
07. distinctly unseemly
“There was something distinctly unseemly about celebrating so soon after the tragedy.”
adv + adj
08. rather unseemly
“Their rather unseemly argument embarrassed everyone at dinner.”
adv + adj
Noun
09. unseemly behaviour
“The fans were criticised for unseemly behaviour after the final whistle.”
adj + noun
10. consider it unseemly to
“Many consider it unseemly to profit from others’ misfortune.”
11. descend into unseemly row
“The meeting descended into an unseemly row about funding.”
12. in unseemly haste
“The law was pushed through parliament in unseemly haste.”
Usage
Typically placed before the noun it modifies; also used predicatively after linking verbs like 'seem' or 'appear'.
Real-World Examples
“The live-streamed 2023 civil case was an unseemly but strangely fascinating spectacle featuring two equally dislikable archetypes: the vexatious litigant and the preening, out-of-touch celebrity.” “Some relatives, friends and archivists find the sales unseemly, citing the astronaut’s aversion to cashing in on his celebrity and flying career and the loss of historical objects to the public.” Etymology
From Middle English unsemli, probably a partial calque of Old Norse úsǽmiligr (“unseemly”); equivalent to un- + seemly. Cognate with Icelandic ósæmileg (“offensive”), Norwegian usømmelig (“unseemly”), Danish usømmelig (“unseemly”), German unziemlich.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/unseemly