checkered history
noun
: a past history of having had problems
When it comes to labor relations, the company has a somewhat checkered history.
Examples of checkered history in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The United States has a long and checkered history of intervening directly and indirectly in the politics, economies and social concerns of Latin American countries, stretching back more than a century.
—
Kim Hjelmgaard,
USA Today,
14 Nov. 2025
Critics are alarmed The volatile and checkered history of cryptocurrencies has many critics alarmed.
—
Rafael Nam,
NPR,
5 Dec. 2024
In their efforts to protect and defend the rights of Muslims, American elites have embraced a bowdlerized version of Islam’s complicated and checkered history in the United States.
—
Peter Skerry,
Foreign Affairs,
8 Apr. 2017
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Kim Hjelmgaard,
USA Today,
14 Nov. 2025
Critics are alarmed The volatile and checkered history of cryptocurrencies has many critics alarmed.
—
Rafael Nam,
NPR,
5 Dec. 2024
In their efforts to protect and defend the rights of Muslims, American elites have embraced a bowdlerized version of Islam’s complicated and checkered history in the United States.
—
Peter Skerry,
Foreign Affairs,
8 Apr. 2017
Cite this Entry
“Checkered history.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/checkered%20history. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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