ill-kempt C2+ Topic:Describing Qualities US /ˌɪlˈkɛmpt/ UK /ˌɪlˈkɛmpt/ See IPA manual Freq #967831 Meanings 1 adj untidy, poorly groomed, or disheveled in appearance An ill-kempt traveler in a stained coat waited by the stable. Thesaurus Synonyms 1 adj · untidy, poorly groomed, or... unkemptdisheveledscruffy ↔ Opposites well-groomedneattidy Word family Related forms kemptcomb Etymology Formed from ill + kempt, the old past participle of kemb, 'to comb.' It therefore meant literally 'badly combed' before broadening to an untidy or poorly groomed appearance. Topics Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives External links Google Images Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary # ill-kempt **Type:** Word **Level:** C2+ **Part of speech:** adj **IPA (US):** /ˌɪlˈkɛmpt/ **IPA (UK):** /ˌɪlˈkɛmpt/ **Frequency rank:** 967831 ## Meanings 1. untidy, poorly groomed, or disheveled in appearance ## Examples - An ill-kempt traveler in a stained coat waited by the stable. ## Synonyms - unkempt - disheveled - scruffy ## Antonyms - well-groomed - neat - tidy ## Related Forms - kempt - comb ## Etymology Formed from ill + kempt, the old past participle of kemb, 'to comb.' It therefore meant literally 'badly combed' before broadening to an untidy or poorly groomed appearance. ## Topics - Describing Qualities - Word Formation & Derivatives markdown