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Untidiness: meaning, definitions and examples

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untidiness

 

[ ʌnˈtaɪdɪnəs ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

in daily life

The state of being messy or disorganized, typically in one's living or working space. Untidiness can lead to stress and decreased productivity.

Synonyms

clutter, disorder, messiness.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
untidiness

General description of a state where things are not clean or arranged properly, often used interchangeably with untidiness.

  • The untidiness of his appearance was noticed by everyone
  • She apologized for the untidiness of the living space
disorder

More formal term, often implies a state of confusion or chaos, possibly beyond just physical mess, and can be used in broader contexts like mental or social disorder.

  • The living room was in complete disorder after the party
  • His thoughts were in such disorder that he couldn’t concentrate on his work
clutter

Refers to many things lying around in a disorderly way, often suggesting a state of excess or accumulation.

  • We need to clear out the clutter in the garage before winter comes
  • Her books and papers created a lot of clutter on the dining table
messiness

Casual way to describe a lack of cleanliness or organization, typically used in everyday situations.

  • Her messiness was obvious when you saw her closet
  • He always blamed his messiness on being too busy

Examples of usage

  • Her room was always in a state of untidiness, with clothes strewn all over the floor.
  • The untidiness of his desk made it difficult for him to find important documents when needed.
Context #2 | Noun

general

Lack of neatness or order in appearance or behavior. Untidiness can also refer to a lack of personal hygiene.

Synonyms

disarray, dishevelment, sloppiness.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
untidiness

General appearance of being messy or not well-organized. Can be used for both physical spaces and personal appearance.

  • His desk shows a lot of untidiness
  • She didn't mind a bit of untidiness in her room
sloppiness

Careless or lazy messiness, often with a negative connotation implying lack of effort or attention to detail.

  • His sloppiness at work caused several issues
  • She was criticized for the sloppiness of her report
dishevelment

Usually refers to a personal appearance that is messy, such as uncombed hair or wrinkled clothes.

  • He looked at himself in the mirror and saw dishevelment staring back at him
  • Her dishevelment was obvious after the long flight
disarray

A state of complete lack of order, often implying chaos. More severe than simple untidiness.

  • After the party, the house was in complete disarray
  • The documents were left in disarray on the table

Examples of usage

  • Her untidiness extended beyond her physical surroundings to her unkempt appearance.
  • The teacher reprimanded the student for their untidiness in completing assignments.

Translations

Translations of the word "untidiness" in other languages:

🇵🇹 desordem

🇮🇳 अव्यवस्था

🇩🇪 Unordnung

🇮🇩 ketidakteraturan

🇺🇦 безлад

🇵🇱 nieporządek

🇯🇵 乱雑

🇫🇷 désordre

🇪🇸 desorden

🇹🇷 düzensizlik

🇰🇷 어수선함

🇸🇦 فوضى

🇨🇿 nepořádek

🇸🇰 neporiadok

🇨🇳 混乱

🇸🇮 nered

🇮🇸 óreiða

🇰🇿 ретсіздік

🇬🇪 უწესრიგობა

🇦🇿 nizamsızlıq

🇲🇽 desorden

Etymology

The word 'untidiness' originated from the Old English word 'untidig', meaning 'not timely' or 'inopportune'. Over time, the meaning evolved to describe a lack of neatness or order. Untidiness can have various negative impacts on both physical and mental well-being, highlighting the importance of maintaining tidiness in our surroundings and behaviors.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #35,239, 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.