sloppy

adjective

slop·​py ˈslä-pē How to pronounce sloppy (audio)
sloppier; sloppiest
Synonyms of sloppy
1
a
: wet so as to spatter easily : slushy
a sloppy racetrack
b
: wet or smeared with or as if with something slopped over
2
: slovenly, careless
a sloppy dresser
did sloppy work
3
: disagreeably effusive
sloppy sentimentalism
sloppily
ˈslä-pə-lē How to pronounce sloppy (audio)
adverb
sloppiness noun

Synonyms of sloppy

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Examples of sloppy in a Sentence

Your work has been very sloppy lately. a sloppy child who always seems to have spilled something on his clothes
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Vaughn Grissom drove in four runs, rookie Walbert Ureña pitched seven strong innings and the Los Angeles Angels ended a seven-game losing streak with a 10-1 victory over the sloppy New York Yankees on Monday night. — ABC News, 1 Sep. 2026 Vaughn Grissom drove in four runs, rookie Walbert Ureña pitched seven strong innings and the Angels ended a seven-game losing streak with a 10-1 victory over the sloppy New York Yankees on Monday night. — Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026 Get comfortable calculating it accurately, because a sloppy SDE calculation is one of the fastest ways to lose credibility with a serious buyer before negotiations even begin. — Lien De Pau, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026 The Horned Frogs also committed 11 penalties for 89 yards in a sloppy performance. — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sloppy

Word History

First Known Use

1672, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of sloppy was in 1672

Phrases Containing sloppy

Rhymes for sloppy

See All Rhymes for sloppy

Browse Nearby Words

sloppiness
sloppy
sloppy joe
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sloppy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sloppy. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

sloppy

adjective
slop·​py ˈsläp-ē How to pronounce sloppy (audio)
sloppier; sloppiest
1
a
: wet so as to spatter easily : slushy
b
: wet with or as if with something slopped over
2
: slovenly, careless
a sloppy dresser
3
: overly sentimental
sloppily
ˈsläp-ə-lē How to pronounce sloppy (audio)
adverb
sloppiness
ˈsläp-ē-nəs
noun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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