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
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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
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
Scolding your Valley co-star for being a sloppy drunk is like scolding your Gilded Age co-star for wearing wigs with weird little bangs.
—
Michelle Cohn, Vulture, 24 July 2025
Dining outdoors isn’t about messy picnic tables with so-so food and mosquitoes, or wearing sloppy shorts.
—Gretta Monahan, Boston Herald, 12 July 2025
His father has definitely rubbed off on him in terms of cleanup, but this first kill was a little rough and sloppy.
—Hunter Ingram, Variety, 11 July 2025
Minnesota feasted on sloppy cross-court passes, turning top-of-the-key giveaways into easy transition layups, and worked their way to get back to within four by quarter’s end.
—Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for sloppy
Michelle Cohn, Vulture, 24 July 2025
Dining outdoors isn’t about messy picnic tables with so-so food and mosquitoes, or wearing sloppy shorts.
—Gretta Monahan, Boston Herald, 12 July 2025
His father has definitely rubbed off on him in terms of cleanup, but this first kill was a little rough and sloppy.
—Hunter Ingram, Variety, 11 July 2025
Minnesota feasted on sloppy cross-court passes, turning top-of-the-key giveaways into easy transition layups, and worked their way to get back to within four by quarter’s end.
—Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for sloppy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sloppy
Adjective
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Notably, over the next three days — through a hot but noisy producer price index reading and a messy University of Michigan consumer-sentiment survey — the benchmark treated Tuesday’s closing level just under 6,450 as a floor, testing it repeatedly and finishing the week right on it.—
Michael Santoli,
CNBC,
16 Aug. 2025
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When you’re finished, the self-cleaning cycle rinses the brush roll and interior for easy maintenance, saving you from messy cleanup.—
Toni Sutton,
People.com,
15 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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These chaotic phases serve a crucial purpose that is easy to miss in the moment.—
Ginni Saraswati,
Forbes.com,
19 Aug. 2025
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Witnesses described to the Free Press a chaotic scene inside the store as shoppers scrambled to evade the man.—
John Wisely,
Freep.com,
19 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The sentimental choice only made the moment even more special, with William explaining why the sapphire piece was so close to his heart.—
Ariana Quihuiz,
People.com,
3 Aug. 2025
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His portrayals throughout tend toward the gently sentimental, no noble savagery in view.—
Tyler Austin Harper,
The Atlantic,
1 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The other near certainty in Lead Actor should be Gary Oldman, who anchors Slow Horses with a slovenly charisma that is, against all odds, deeply watchable.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
24 May 2025
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Related Stories The movie O’Neil has put together out of this footage, which premiered last night at Cannes, is by any real-world standard a slovenly and undisciplined piece of work.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
19 May 2025
Adjective
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With no federal law protecting online information and just a patchwork of state privacy laws, many Americans are confused and concerned about how their online information is used, according to surveys by the Pew Research Center.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
16 Aug. 2025
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The memo was welcome for taxpayers who were confused about limits resulting from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) made another tweak.—
Kelly Phillips Erb,
Forbes.com,
15 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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For dried or sticky grease, Marshall suggests switching to dish soap diluted in water and rubbing gently with a soft sponge or microfiber cloth.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
14 Aug. 2025
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Despite skyrocketing prices for TV rights from name-brand sports leagues, even smaller streaming services know their future will be driven in part by that particularly sticky tune-in driver for audiences.—
David Bloom,
Forbes.com,
14 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Hill said the next step was to just let the cord dry on its own, taking care not to trap it in a wet or soiled diaper for extended periods and to avoid soaking it at bathtime.—
Andrea Kane,
CNN Money,
19 Aug. 2025
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Maintain a safe distance from water, wet items, and metal objects.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
19 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Labor of love sometimes translates as a low budget or shaggy overall appearance.—
Scott Phillips,
Forbes.com,
6 Aug. 2025
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Barr — who is tall with long, shaggy hair and was dressed like a surfer the day of our interview — has never been afraid to try new things in pursuit of adventure.—
Salvador Rodriguez,
CNBC,
1 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sloppy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sloppy. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025.
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