kempt

adjective

ˈkem(p)t How to pronounce kempt (audio)
Definition of kemptnext
as in tidy
being clean and in good order a distinguished-looking gentleman with a kempt beard and an old-world manner

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of kempt The creeping ivy of rap had crawled over their white picket fences, across their kempt green lawns, and around their Victorian homes, weakening the old walls between cultures. — Jonathan Rowe, SPIN, 5 June 2023 There was a whiff of mystery, a sense that something more was going on behind those well-kempt exteriors. — Aaron Gilbreath, Longreads, 9 Feb. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kempt
  1. tidy
  2. neat
  3. trim
Adjective
  • Illinois’ chunk of that multistate settlement is certainly a tidy sum that could help chip away at Chicago Public Schools’ budget woes.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Below, experts provide legal advice on how to handle this situation and keep things as smooth as possible, along with simple yard cleaning tips to help keep your landscape tidy.
    — SJ McShane, Martha Stewart, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of tidy
Adjective
  • For all the conservative positioning of Anne as a rebuttal to more urban, racially diverse, multicultural programming…Anne had more significance than this neat divide between contemporary culture and conservative history.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 Aug. 2026
  • As of this writing, the Rockies are at a perfectly neat 62-100 pace.
    — Grant Brisbee, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of neat
Adjective
  • Hyundai There’s also a bigger 61-kWh pack that boosts range to as much as 308 miles (496 km), depending on trim, with a 10-to-80% DC charging time of around 30 minutes.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Trees that are suited to your growing zone and local climate conditions will be easier to maintain over time, but be mindful of the pruning and other types of care trees will need to keep them looking trim, tidy, and healthy.
    — Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of trim

Browse Nearby Words

kelpies
kempt
ken
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Cite this Entry

“Kempt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kempt. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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