Slovenliness: meaning, definitions and examples

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slovenliness

 

[ ˈsləʊvənlɪnəs ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

lack of tidiness

The quality or state of being untidy or messy, characterized by a lack of cleanliness or neatness.

Synonyms

disorderliness, messiness, untidiness.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
slovenliness

Use this when describing a habitual lack of care in appearance or actions, often implying a negative judgment about someone's character.

  • His slovenliness was evident in both his appearance and his work habits.
  • The slovenliness of his room reflected his overall disorganized life.
untidiness

Use this term when describing something that lacks neatness or order but isn't necessarily very dirty or chaotic. It often refers to a smaller scale of disorder.

  • Her untidiness was evident in the way her clothes were strewn about the room.
  • The untidiness of the garden suggested that it hadn't been cared for in a while.
messiness

This term is best used when describing something that is physically unclean, cluttered, or chaotic. It has a casual tone.

  • The messiness of the kitchen was overwhelming after the party.
  • His desk was always covered in papers, reflecting his constant messiness.
disorderliness

This is appropriate when referring to a general state of lack of order, structure, or organization. It can apply to both physical spaces and situations.

  • The disorderliness of the classroom made it difficult for the students to focus.
  • The construction site was marked by disorderliness, with materials scattered everywhere.

Examples of usage

  • His slovenliness was evident from the piles of dirty clothes on the floor.
  • The slovenliness of the kitchen made it difficult to find anything.

Translations

Translations of the word "slovenliness" in other languages:

🇵🇹 desleixo

🇮🇳 अलसता

🇩🇪 Nachlässigkeit

🇮🇩 kemalasan

🇺🇦 неохайність

🇵🇱 niechlujstwo

🇯🇵 だらしなさ

🇫🇷 négligence

🇪🇸 desaseo

🇹🇷 pasaklılık

🇰🇷 게으름

🇸🇦 إهمال

🇨🇿 nepořádnost

🇸🇰 neporiadnosť

🇨🇳 邋遢

🇸🇮 neurejenost

🇮🇸 hirðuleysi

🇰🇿 ұқыпсыздық

🇬🇪 უზრუნველი

🇦🇿 səliqəsizlik

🇲🇽 desaseo

Etymology

The word 'slovenliness' originated from the Middle English word 'sloven' which meant an untidy or dirty person. It evolved to 'slovenly' in the 16th century and eventually gave rise to 'slovenliness'. The term has been used to describe the lack of tidiness and cleanliness since the 17th century.

See also: slovenly.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #35,308, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.