sleazy

adjective

slea·​zy ˈslē-zē How to pronounce sleazy (audio)
also ˈslā-
sleazier; sleaziest
Synonyms of sleazy
1
a
: lacking firmness of texture : flimsy
b
: carelessly made of inferior materials : shoddy
2
a
: marked by low character or quality
sleazy tabloids
b
: squalid, dilapidated
sleazy bars
sleazily
ˈslē-zə-lē How to pronounce sleazy (audio)
also ˈslā-
adverb
sleaziness
ˈslē-zē-nəs How to pronounce sleazy (audio)
also ˈslā-
noun

Synonyms of sleazy

Relevance
See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of sleazy in a Sentence

a dancer in a sleazy outfit a sleazy lothario who is always on the make
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.
Within a decade, TMZ made its name with a combination of sleazy and sensational celebrity news. — ABC News, 24 Apr. 2026 Ian Fleming, who set some of From Russia with Love's most memorable scenes in this area, delighted in its 'sleazy romance'. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026 But while Villa was a revolutionary and man of the peasantry, Lessing became a sleazy entertainment lawyer. — Literary Hub, 14 Apr. 2026 What unfolds is a sleazy cat-and-mouse game of unrequited obsession set against a backdrop of vivid Wes Anderson–like interiors, leaving one to think there must be something in the water. — Air Mail, 28 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sleazy

Word History

Etymology

origin unknown

First Known Use

circa 1645, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of sleazy was circa 1645

Rhymes for sleazy

See All Rhymes for sleazy

Browse Nearby Words

sleazoid
sleazy
sled
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

sleazy

adjective
slea·​zy ˈslē-zē How to pronounce sleazy (audio)
also ˈslā-
sleazier; sleaziest
1
: not firm in texture : flimsy
2
: made carelessly of poor material : shoddy
sleazily
-zə-lē How to pronounce sleazy (audio)
adverb
sleaziness
-zē-nəs How to pronounce sleazy (audio)
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on sleazy

Nglish: Translation of sleazy for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All