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 Two innings later, the Dodgers took the lead again, rewarded for hard contact as the Brewers’ defense showed its first signs of sloppy play. — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026 The pair seemed prepared and methodical—not sloppy carousers but people with a plan. — Molly Fischer, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026 These are two teams that figure to be in the conversation come January, but both played some very sloppy football. — Dan Zaksheske Outkick, FOXNews.com, 12 Oct. 2026 Our break-ins or our entries have been sloppy, and that’s on us. — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 10 Oct. 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
  • In art, as in life, the messy materiality of flesh fazes me not one whit.
    — Eugenie Brinkema, ARTnews.com, 17 Oct. 2026
  • View gallery - 4 images For all the extraordinary things that consumer 3D printers can produce, changing color has remained a surprisingly messy business.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of messy
Adjective
  • Week 7 of the 2026 college football season will go down as one of the most chaotic ever, with five Top 10 teams suffering losses, and the newest AP Top 25 Poll reflects the craziness that unfolded.
    — Mark Harris OutKick, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2026
  • While the weather painted a chaotic picture, stories from Malibu residents were of neighbors coming together as a community in a way only the specter of disaster could prompt.
    — Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of chaotic
Adjective
  • The emotions are real; the sentimental orchestral score by Joseph Trapanese goes overboard.
    — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
  • At times, Marianne’s second-act emotional breakdown feels siloed from the rest of the picture, but the strands coalesce beautifully in an emotionally overwhelming finale that’s tearjerking, but never manipulative or overly sentimental.
    — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 13 Oct. 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
  • Some orphans, their faces filthy, walked the stands hawking candy.
    — Dexter Filkins, New Yorker, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Myriad violations, from food that should’ve been trashed weeks earlier to filthy equipment, befouled the state inspection of a West Miami-Dade supermarket this week.
    — David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of filthy
Adjective
  • The spike in core CPI shows price pressures are broadening into other categories beyond energy, experts noted, a sign inflation remains sticky.
    — Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026
  • With inflation remaining sticky, the central bank may need to raise rates higher and keep them there for longer in 2027, said Christopher Rupkey, chief economist at Fwdbonds.
    — Michelle Fox,Sean Conlon,Sawdah Bhaimiya, CNBC, 14 Oct. 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
  • Unfortunately, there seems to be a lot of confused thinking about this at campuses across the country.
    — Jens Ludwig, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026
  • The long road ahead After being charged with murder on Friday, Francis, dressed in a white Tyvek suit and appearing confused at court, said nothing as she was ordered held without bail for her daughter’s death.
    — Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of confused

Browse Nearby Words

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 22 Oct. 2026.

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