unseemly \ ˌən-ˈsēm-lē \ adjective
: not in keeping with accepted standards of what is right or proper in polite society
Listen to the pronunciation.
Powered by Vocabulary.com
The word unseemly has appeared in 44 articles on NYTimes.com in the past year, including on June 14 in “Spotted Lanternflies Are Back. You Should Still Kill Them” by Asmaa Elkeurti:
The Department of Agriculture strongly encourages people to stomp, squash or swat lanternflies when they see them. Officials have been recruiting residents along the Eastern Seaboard to join the effort for years.
… As global supply chains become increasingly intertwined, the ecological impact of trade continues to grow. Invasive species introduced through imports, like the spotted lanternfly, will need to be controlled through means that might feel unseemly to some.
Daily Word Challenge
Can you correctly use the word unseemly in a sentence?
Based on the definition and example provided, write a sentence using today’s Word of the Day and share it as a comment on this article. It is most important that your sentence makes sense and demonstrates that you understand the word’s definition, but we also encourage you to be creative and have fun.
Then, read some of the other sentences students have submitted and use the “Recommend” button to vote for two original sentences that stand out to you.
If you want a better idea of how unseemly can be used in a sentence, read these usage examples on Vocabulary.com.
Show Full Article
Quizzes and Vocabulary
Word of the Day: exacerbate
Word of the Day: raucous
Word of the Day: disingenuous
More In The Learning Network
8 Ways to Bring Birds and Birding Into Your Classroom
What Were the Best and Worst Parts of Your Summer Vacation?
Can You Find These 14 Hidden Children’s Book Titles?
Editors’ Picks
People think movers “are like flies on the wall,” said one owner of a moving company, “so they don’t hesitate to have very open conversations with each other in front of you.”
Movers See All, and They Have Thoughts on Your Relationship
On the outskirts of Reykjavik, Sky Lagoon, which opened in 2021, is one of Iceland’s most luxurious geothermal pools.
5 Hot Springs in Iceland That Aren’t the Blue Lagoon
A School Lunch Solution: The Bento Box
Trending in The Times
Mr. Harwell performing in 2003. “We didn’t want to be labeled as a punk band, a ska band, a surf band, a rock band, a pop band or a whatever band,” he said. “We just wanted to be us.”
Steve Harwell, Voice of the Band Smash Mouth, Is Dead at 56
At 97, the First Lady of Fitness Is Still Shaping the Industry
A Huge Threat to the U.S. Budget Has Receded. And No One Is Sure Why.
Free lesson plans, writing prompts and activities for students, all based on Times journalism.
The Learning Network