sloppy

adjective

ˈslä-pē How to pronounce sloppy (audio)
Definition of sloppynext
1
as in messy
lacking neatness in dress or person a sloppy child who always seems to have spilled something on his clothes

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in chaotic
lacking in order, neatness, and often cleanliness dumped the papers in a sloppy pile on the desk

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in sentimental
appealing to the emotions in an obvious and tiresome way a cinematic romance with a sloppy musical score that will have audiences reaching for their handkerchiefs

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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 sloppy The Horned Frogs also committed 11 penalties for 89 yards in a sloppy performance. — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Aug. 2026 There was a celebration of what Daniels can do at any point, which is to cover up inconsistency and sloppy execution by others with his extraordinary talent. — Nicki Jhabvala, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026 While the Crusaders were sloppy and done in by penalties, Lincoln-Way East played a mostly clean game. — Steve Millar, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026 In what turned about to be the final NFL game for iconic running back Jim Brown, Vince Lombardi's Packers navigated a sloppy Lambeau Field surface for an overwhelming victory. — Jim Reineking, USA Today, 24 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sloppy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sloppy
  1. messy
  2. chaotic
  3. sentimental
  4. slovenly
  5. filthy
  6. sticky
  7. wrinkled
  8. confused
Adjective
  • Where there might be a nugget of truth (water-holding, adhesion, seed spacing), there are simpler, proven, and less messy alternatives.
    — Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Aug. 2026
  • The game commenced with four unanswered scores from Jenks and sloppy play from Southlake Carroll that included a handful of early penalties, messy substitutions and a lack of rhythm.
    — Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of messy
Adjective
  • To cap the most chaotic week of his managerial career, Joe Espada celebrated his 51st birthday on Sunday.
    — Chandler Rome, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Today marks five years since the chaotic, deadly ending of America's nearly 20-year war in Afghanistan.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of chaotic
Adjective
  • Zendaya’s mom rang in the actress’s 30th birthday with a sentimental Instagram post.
    — Hannah Malach, InStyle, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Caregiving is hard work Caregiving for an aging parent is not sentimental.
    — Jim King, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of sentimental
Adjective
  • And this is where the movie takes off from retro mythology to become its own slovenly mod thing.
    — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 4 Mar. 2026
  • To Washington, a beard made a man look unkempt and slovenly, masking the higher emotions that civility required.
    — Maurizio Valsania, The Conversation, 2 Oct. 2025
Definition of slovenly
Adjective
  • People were filthy in so many ways, so Mike really wrote that in.
    — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 20 Aug. 2026
  • While sinks can become filthy from soap splatters and dirty hands, toilets need cleaning for very different reasons.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of filthy
Adjective
  • What comes then isn’t relief or a release but a promise that these characters and their circumstances will remain sticky in your mind.
    — Tembe Denton-Hurst, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Without ventilation, those particles settle on nearby surfaces like cabinets, walls, and countertops, creating a sticky film that builds up over time.
    — Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of sticky
Adjective
  • Participants with wet but non-wrinkled fingers required significantly more force to maintain the same hold; their hands were working harder to do less.
    — Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026
  • Yellowing leaves can indicate overwatering, while wrinkled leaves can point to underwatering.
    — Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 8 Feb. 2026
Definition of wrinkled
Adjective
  • Also, if the switch from side by side to one-front/one-back happened instantaneously, your brain would get confused about how to interpret the images delivered from each eye, since the setup would be quite different from what you were used to.
    — Abigail Witmer, The Conversation, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Critics of the move have been vocal, and many residents were left confused.
    — Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of confused

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slopping
sloppy
slops
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Cite this Entry

“Sloppy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sloppy. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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