What does unstylishly mean?
Unstylishly means in a manner that lacks style, elegance, or fashionable good taste. It is used when a person’s clothing, appearance, speech, behaviour, design, or surroundings are judged to be aesthetically unattractive, awkward, or badly judged. The word is especially common in criticism of clothing and interiors, but it can also characterize anything considered clumsy or lacking refinement: a poorly designed object, an awkwardly performed role, or an unappealing renovation. Its tone ranges from mildly negative to strongly disapproving, depending on context and the choice of modifiers. ‘Unstylishly utilitarian,’ for example, may be a restrained aesthetic criticism, while using the adverb alone can sound blunt. The word is formed from the adjective unstylish and the adverbial suffix -ly. It is a relatively uncommon alternative to more familiar expressions such as ‘in an unstylish way,’ ‘inelegantly,’ or ‘tastelessly,’ but it gives concise, emphatic expression to a negative aesthetic judgment.
adverbIn a manner that lacks aesthetic refinement or fashionable good taste; in an unattractive or tasteless way.
- In a manner that is lacking in style, aesthetic appeal, or good taste.
"The jacket was cut so unstylishly that it overwhelmed the wearer."
"He was dressed unstylishly in a checked jacket and loose tie."
"Critics dismissed the building as unstylishly utilitarian."
Unstylishly is the adverb for delivering a particularly firm verdict on someone’s fashion sense.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does unstylishly come from?
Unstylishly is an English formation combining the negative prefix un- with the adjective stylish and the adverbial suffix -ly. Stylish itself comes from style, a word that ultimately derives from Latin stylus, meaning a writing instrument. The productive English prefix and suffix later extend the adjective’s negative aesthetic meaning into an adverb describing manner.
Related word forms
How unstylishly is actually used
This is an evaluative and usually mildly disapproving word. It is less common than the phrases ‘in an unstylish manner’ or ‘in a tasteless way’ and may sound more pointed or literary.