unseemly
Group 18Difficulty 2/3
Definition
- (adjective)
- Not proper or appropriate; indecorous GRE
Example in Context
The unseemly spectacle of politicians trading insults on live television appalled viewers who expected a substantive policy debate.
Synonyms
improperinappropriateindecent
Etymology
Not proper or appropriate behavior.
- un- (Old English) — not
- seemly (Old English) — proper
Memory Aid
🙈Sounds like “Un-See-Me”
When I do something UNSEEMLY, I wish I could UN-SEE-ME and hide from the shame!
Visual Association
😳A person slipping on a banana peel in a formal event, causing an unseemly spectacle.
Semantic Clusters
Synonym Groups
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “unseemly” mean on the GRE?
unseemly (adjective) means “Not proper or appropriate; indecorous”. The unseemly spectacle of politicians trading insults on live television appalled viewers who expected a substantive policy debate.
How to remember “unseemly” for the GRE?
Mnemonic: “unseemly” sounds like “Un-See-Me”. When I do something UNSEEMLY, I wish I could UN-SEE-ME and hide from the shame!
What are synonyms for “unseemly”?
Common synonyms: improper, inappropriate, indecent.