seamy

C1 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˈsiːmi/ UK /ˈsiːmi/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

adj
showing the unpleasant or sordid aspects of life, often those hidden or ignored

The novel explores the seamy side of urban life.
2

adj
relating to or resembling a seam, especially in being rough or uneven

The fabric had a seamy texture that was uncomfortable to wear.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · showing the unpleasant or... sleazysordid disreputable unsavory corrupt

2 adj · relating to or resembling a... rough uneven grimy gritty

More shabby unwholesome

Opposites

wholesome respectable reputable pleasant

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

seamy side
the unpleasant or morally disreputable aspect of something

Adjective + noun

Etymology

seamy (Early Modern English, 'having seams; unsightly, hence unpleasant'); from _seam_ (Old English _sēam_, 'seam, suture'), originally referring to the rough underside of sewn fabric where the seams show.

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# seamy

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /ˈsiːmi/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈsiːmi/

## Meanings
1. showing the unpleasant or sordid aspects of life, often those hidden or ignored
2. relating to or resembling a seam, especially in being rough or uneven

## Examples
- The novel explores the seamy side of urban life.
- The fabric had a seamy texture that was uncomfortable to wear.

## Synonyms
- sleazy
- sordid
- disreputable
- unsavory
- corrupt
- grimy
- gritty
- shabby
- unwholesome
- rough

## Antonyms
- wholesome
- respectable
- reputable
- pleasant

## Etymology
seamy (Early Modern English, 'having seams; unsightly, hence unpleasant'); from _seam_ (Old English _sēam_, 'seam, suture'), originally referring to the rough underside of sewn fabric where the seams show.

## AI Etymology
Seamy is a Early Modern English word meaning 'having seams; unsightly, hence unpleasant', from seam (Old English sēam, 'seam, suture'), originally referring to the rough underside of sewn fabric where the seams show. In current use it is an adjective meaning "showing the unpleasant or sordid aspects of life, often those hidden or ignored". That sense is explained by the older material without requiring a speculative semantic step: the inherited or borrowed base supplies the field of meaning, while the English formation fixes its modern role. The history is mainly one of transmission into English, with the older form and sense carried through borrowing or adaptation. For dictionary purposes, the important point is the continuity between the older form, the route into English, and the present lexical sense.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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