Frowzled

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Having a messy, unkempt appearance, typically with tangled or uncombed hair
2. Displaying a scruffy or disorderly look often seen in hair or clothing
3. Appearing rough and uncared-for, especially in terms of grooming or dress

Etymology: "Frowzled" is a variant of "frowsled" and belongs to a family of English dialect words built around "frowsy" (also "frowzy"), which described something stale, musty, or smelling of neglect. The "frowsy" group appears in English from the 1600s, and the sense of stuffiness or staleness came first; the notion of an unkempt, dishevelled person grew out of that sense of neglect. The "-led" ending is a frequentative or diminutive-type suffix, the same kind found in "sparkle" or "twinkle," where the repeated action is softened into a continuing state. The word has been recorded mainly in dialect and informal English, so its forms vary; "frowsled" and "frowzled" are both attested spellings.

Synonyms: rumpled, disheveled, untidy, messy, scruffy

Antonyms: neat, tidy, orderly, well-groomed, organized