Synonyms of shoddy
1
a
: a reclaimed wool from materials that are not felted that is of better quality and longer staple than mungo
b
: a fabric often of inferior quality manufactured wholly or partly from reclaimed wool
2
a
: inferior, imitative, or pretentious articles or matter
b
: pretentious vulgarity

shoddy

2 of 2

adjective

shoddier; shoddiest
1
: made wholly or partly of shoddy
2
a
: cheaply imitative : vulgarly pretentious
shoddy merchandise
b
: hastily or poorly done : inferior
shoddy workmanship
c
: shabby, disreputable
shoddy business deals

Examples of shoddy in a Sentence

Adjective They gave a shoddy performance. shoddy merchandise that soon fell to pieces
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.
Adjective
Most resort to mobile air conditioners, generally shoddy products sold to people on the eve of a heat wave. Henry Grabar, The Atlantic, 27 June 2026 Creating an effect that would look homemade — shoddy, even — was initially unthinkable for Vickers. Carita Rizzo, HollywoodReporter, 8 June 2026 Montreal broke the game open from there, taking advantage of Buffalo’s shoddy defensive play to win 6-3 and take a 3-2 lead in the series. Matthew Fairburn, New York Times, 15 May 2026 With fewer inspections required for skydiving planes than most commercial aviation, Robb argues the temptation is great for operators to use substandard equipment or make shoddy repairs. Alexandra Skores, CNN Money, 15 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for shoddy

Word History

Etymology

Noun

origin unknown

First Known Use

Noun

1832, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1847, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of shoddy was in 1832

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Shoddy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shoddy. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Kids Definition

shoddy

adjective
shod·​dy
ˈshäd-ē
shoddier; shoddiest
: poorly done or made
shoddy construction
shoddy furniture
shoddily
ˈshäd-ᵊl-ē
adverb
shoddiness
ˈshäd-ē-nəs
noun

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