Dowdy and Messy

Dowdy

Dowdy adjective - Lacking neatness in dress or person.
Usage example: a dowdy old matron

Messy and dowdy are semantically related. In some cases you can use "Messy" instead an adjective "Dowdy".

Messy

Messy adjective - Lacking in order, neatness, and often cleanliness.
Usage example: having a messy room is virtually de rigueur for a college student

Dowdy and messy are semantically related. Sometimes you can use "Dowdy" instead an adjective "Messy".

Nearby Words: mess, messed, messing
Cite this Source
Messy and Dowdy. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 02, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/dowdy/messy
Dowdy & Messy. N.p., 2016. Web. 02 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/dowdy/messy>.
Messy or Dowdy. 2016. Accessed August 02, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/dowdy/messy.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "dowdy" and "messy" have occurred on timeline