Dowdily: meaning, definitions and examples
๐
dowdily
[ หdaส.dษช.li ]
manner of dress
Dowdily refers to a manner of being dressed in a way that is considered unrefined, outdated, or lacking in style. It often implies a sense of sloppiness or neglect in one's appearance. When someone is described as dressing dowdily, it suggests that their clothing choices do not reflect current fashion trends or show any effort to appear polished. This term is generally used in a disapproving way to criticize someone's fashion sense.
Synonyms
frumpily, sloppily, unfashionably
Examples of usage
- She arrived at the party dressed dowdily, wearing an old sweater and faded jeans.
- His dowdily attire made him stand out at the upscale gala.
- Despite her dowdily appearance, she was confident and charming during the meeting.
Translations
Translations of the word "dowdily" in other languages:
๐ต๐น desajeitadamente
๐ฎ๐ณ เค เคเฅเคฌเฅเคเคฐเฅเคฌ เคคเคฐเฅเคเฅ เคธเฅ
๐ฉ๐ช ungeschickt
๐ฎ๐ฉ secara canggung
๐บ๐ฆ ะฝะตะทะณัะฐะฑะฝะพ
๐ต๐ฑ niezdarnie
๐ฏ๐ต ไธๅจ็จใซ
๐ซ๐ท maladroitement
๐ช๐ธ torpemente
๐น๐ท beceriksizce
๐ฐ๐ท ์ด์ํ๊ฒ
๐ธ๐ฆ ุจุดูู ุบูุฑ ู ุงูุฑ
๐จ๐ฟ neลกikovnฤ
๐ธ๐ฐ neลกikovne
๐จ๐ณ ็ฌจๆๅฐ
๐ธ๐ฎ nerodno
๐ฎ๐ธ klaufalega
๐ฐ๐ฟ ัะฐัะฐาฃะดัาะฟะตะฝ
๐ฌ๐ช แฃแชแแแฃแ แแ
๐ฆ๐ฟ beyhude ลษkildษ
๐ฒ๐ฝ torpemente
Etymology
The term 'dowdily' is derived from the adjective 'dowdy', which describes someone or something that lacks style or is old-fashioned. The origins of 'dowdy' can be traced back to the late 16th century, coming from the word 'dawd', meaning to dress or to make a show of being dressed. The term initially had straightforward connotations related to appearance but evolved to signify a broader disapproval of taste and fashion. With the addition of the adverbial suffix '-ly', 'dowdily' emerged as a way to describe the manner in which someone dresses rather than just the state of their clothing itself. Over time, this word has retained its critical nuance, often reflecting societal values about appearance and self-presentation.
Word Frequency Rank
With rank #43,084, this word is among the least frequently used in common English. Understanding it can be beneficial for comprehensive language mastery, but it's not essential for most learners.