Frumpish

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ˈfɹʌmpɪʃ/

Definitions

1. Having a dull or unfashionable look, often considered old-fashioned or lacking style
2. Appearing plain and lacking in charm or elegance in clothing or manner
3. Showing a shabby or unattractive appearance that suggests neglect or outdated taste

Etymology: Frumpish is simply "frump" with the adjective-forming suffix "-ish" added, and the suffix itself has a long pedigree. It descends from a Proto-Indo-European root that also gave rise to words for "like" or "resembling," passed through Proto-Germanic and Old English as "-isc," and eventually settled into the modern "-ish" that English uses to mean "having the qualities of" or "somewhat like." The base word, "frump," is the more intriguing part of the story. It names a dowdy, unfashionable person, typically a woman, and the image it conjures is of someone whose clothes and manner seem stuck in an earlier decade. Attaching "-ish" to it produces a description of that look: not fully frumpy, but leaning that way, with a dullness that feels a little outdated.

Synonyms: ungainly, dull, old-fashioned, unfashionable, slovenly

Antonyms: stylish, fashionable, chic, trendy, elegant