1
as in messy
lacking neatness in dress or person
a sloppy child who always seems to have spilled something on his clothes
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in chaotic
lacking in order, neatness, and often cleanliness
dumped the papers in a sloppy pile on the desk
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sloppy
After a 2-4 road trip that consisted of sloppy baseball in all three phases of the game, the Dodgers have dropped out of the No. 1 spot in Newsweek Sports' MLB Power Rankings.
—
David Faris, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Apr. 2025
The Trump administration has been accused of being sloppy in selecting its targets for arrest and deportation, with critics accusing them of relying on tattoo symbols and clothing to make their allegations of gang affiliation.
—Jonathan Easley, The Hill, 21 Apr. 2025
Given publicly available information and pages of corrections Tyler provided to the reporters, the editorial board’s commentary is at best sloppy.
—Chicago Tribune, 13 Apr. 2025
Overall, an entertaining 2-2 draw couldn’t hide the cracks of what was, at times, a sloppy performance by both teams.
—Manuel Veth, Forbes.com, 12 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sloppy
David Faris, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Apr. 2025
The Trump administration has been accused of being sloppy in selecting its targets for arrest and deportation, with critics accusing them of relying on tattoo symbols and clothing to make their allegations of gang affiliation.
—Jonathan Easley, The Hill, 21 Apr. 2025
Given publicly available information and pages of corrections Tyler provided to the reporters, the editorial board’s commentary is at best sloppy.
—Chicago Tribune, 13 Apr. 2025
Overall, an entertaining 2-2 draw couldn’t hide the cracks of what was, at times, a sloppy performance by both teams.
—Manuel Veth, Forbes.com, 12 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sloppy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sloppy
Adjective
-
The dips are wet, messy behemoths of meat, juice and bread.—
Jenn Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2025
-
These are released to Pixels almost immediately, while other OEMs must combine with their own fixes and then run these out across the messy Android ecosystem.—
Zak Doffman,
Forbes.com,
12 May 2025
Adjective
-
As chaotic and entertaining as the transfer portal is, keeping star-caliber pieces in college is vital to building a truly elite team.—
Jim Root,
New York Times,
2 May 2025
-
Viewers looked forward to their weekly check-in with Akil’s characters, who are as flawed and resilient as real people, neither Shonda levels of chaotic nor reality-TV caricatures.—
Jazmine Hughes,
Vulture,
2 May 2025
Adjective
-
Still owned by Swift’s parents, the property remains a sentimental cornerstone of her early years.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
2 May 2025
-
In a crucial sequence, which shows the siblings bringing their mother to a nursing home, a car ride turns into a sentimental journey.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
28 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Disappointed Steve Dear Steve: The real disappointment comes from slovenly people who throw trash onto our highways, or fail to properly secure their cargo.—
Frank Fellone,
Arkansas Online,
2 May 2025
-
Slough House is headed by the slovenly, flatulent, and frequently intoxicated Jackson Lamb (Gary Oldman), who routinely heaps verbal abuse on his staff but is nonetheless a brilliant spymaster in his own smelly way.—
Ars Technica,
Ars Technica,
24 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
However, the tricky part is that communications are confused, especially with family members or home repairs.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
1 May 2025
-
The panel seemed confused, and Cannon seemed amused, as Lucky Duck explained that both Coral and Boogie Woogie would be safe and heading to the finale.—
Lauren Huff,
EW.com,
1 May 2025
Adjective
-
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell and other members of the U.S. central bank are meeting Tuesday and Wednesday, trying to chart a path where the U.S. can avoid both a recession and sticky inflation.—
Jesse Pound,
CNBC,
6 May 2025
-
Relevance is a particularly sticky word, one that lacks nuance.—
Eric Crosby,
Artforum,
1 May 2025
Adjective
-
Maintain a safe distance from water, wet items, and metal objects.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
1 May 2025
-
In heavy rain, allow an additional two seconds of distance to compensate for reduced traction and braking effectiveness. Reduce speed and drive cautiously: On wet roads, slowing down is paramount.—
Bay Area Weather Report,
Mercury News,
30 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Not that a show as concerned with integrity as Good Night, and Good Luck wants the superficial pulse of a thriller, but still, there’s something a touch too shaggy in its current theatricality to keep us consistently attuned to its turns and its stakes.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
4 Apr. 2025
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This romantically rustic wreath weaves shaggy swags of greenery with white tulips and stalks of berries, then ties it all together with a neat black-and-white bow.—
Miles Walls,
Better Homes & Gardens,
19 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sloppy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sloppy. Accessed 16 May. 2025.
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