dowdy

C2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˈdaʊdi/ UK /ˈdaʊdi/ See IPA manual

Freq #45644

Meanings

1

adj
lacking in smartness or taste

A dowdy grey outfit.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

unstylish

Opposites

chic dapper dashing modish

Word family

Forms dowdierdowdiest

Derived forms dowddowdifydowdilydowdinessdowdyishdowdyism

Etymology

First appears c. 1581. Origin uncertain, probably literally "little poorly dressed woman," formed from doue, "poorly dressed woman". Possibly also related to the Scots dow, meaning to "fade".

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

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