seamier; seamiest
1
archaic : having the rough side of the seam showing
2
b
: degraded, sordid
the seamy side of urban life
seaminess noun

Examples of seamy in a Sentence

She was involved in a seamy corruption scandal.
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.
On Thursday, there was another closed-door House Ethics Committee meeting to debate whether to release the panel’s report on Gaetz’s seamy doings. Susan B. Glasser, The New Yorker, 6 Dec. 2024 Why did this seamy Trump trial have to be the first? Sketch in N.Y. apartment turns out to be rare Revolutionary War drawing Trump’s hush money trial strategy: Deny, delay and denigrate Measles is more contagious than the coronavirus. Washington Post, 14 Apr. 2024 Always seamy, the narcotics trade was largely legal until global prohibition began in the early 20th century. Penn Bullock, Rolling Stone, 25 Sep. 2024 As a type, there is something of the frontier sheriff or noir detective in the exorcist, someone who has rubbed up against seamy outlaws and knows their wiles. Sam Kestenbaum, Harper's Magazine, 21 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for seamy 

Word History

First Known Use

1605, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of seamy was in 1605

Dictionary Entries Near seamy

Cite this Entry

“Seamy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/seamy. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

seamy

adjective
seamier; seamiest
: not pleasing or presentable : sordid
the seamy side of the city
seaminess noun

More from Merriam-Webster on seamy

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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