frowzy

or frouz·y

[ frou-zee ]
See synonyms for frowzy on Thesaurus.com
adjective,frowz·i·er, frowz·i·est.
  1. dirty and untidy; slovenly.

  2. ill-smelling; musty.

Origin of frowzy

1
First recorded in 1675–85; origin uncertain

Other words from frowzy

  • frowz·i·ly, adverb
  • frowz·i·ness, noun

Words Nearby frowzy

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use frowzy in a sentence

  • Instead, we were instantly surrounded by several hundred ragged, barefooted, frowzy-headed men shouting "Fresh fish!"

  • Its frowzy blinds were down, and out on the Pool nothing moved but a fishing-boat sweeping in upon the first of the flood.

    The Adventures of Harry Revel | Sir Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch
  • From windows frowzy heads were thrust out and rude women mocked at me.

    Miss Caprice | St. George Rathborne
  • Ask again, who in that frowzy garb can presume to think of her or stand within fifty miles of her orbit?

  • It was well painted, too, and stood out amongst its frowzy neighbors a thing approaching beauty.

    The One-Way Trail | Ridgwell Cullum

British Dictionary definitions for frowzy

frowzy

frouzy or frowsy

/ (ˈfraʊzɪ) /


adjectivefrowzier, frowziest, frouzier, frouziest, frowsier or frowsiest
  1. untidy or unkempt in appearance; shabby

  2. ill-smelling; frowsty

Origin of frowzy

1
C17: of unknown origin

Derived forms of frowzy

  • frowziness, frouziness or frowsiness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012