sloppy

1 of 2

adjective

slop·​py ˈslä-pē How to pronounce sloppy (audio)
sloppier; sloppiest
Synonyms of sloppynext
1
a
: wet so as to spatter easily : slushy
a sloppy racetrack
b
: wet or smeared with or as if with something slopped over
2
: slovenly, careless
a sloppy dresser
did sloppy work
3
: disagreeably effusive
sloppy sentimentalism
sloppily
ˈslä-pə-lē How to pronounce sloppy (audio)
adverb
sloppiness noun

sloppiness

2 of 2

noun

slop·​pi·​ness
-pēnə̇s, 
-pin-
plural -es
: the quality or state of being sloppy

Synonyms of sloppy

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Adjective

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of sloppy in a Sentence

Adjective Your work has been very sloppy lately. a sloppy child who always seems to have spilled something on his clothes
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
The regulars were middle-aged men who routinely drank five or six cocktails after work and were only rarely sloppy. — Meghan O’Gieblyn, Harpers Magazine, 30 June 2026 England looked disjointed and sloppy for much of the first half, while Congo was bright and creative with the ball and held England at bay defensively. — Bailey Johnson, Washington Post, 1 July 2026 Unlike much of the group stage, Sunday’s game was a sloppy, sleepy affair, with South Africa relying on some heroic play from its back line to keep the game even. — Los Angeles Times, 28 June 2026 The trailers looked awful, with a predictably sloppy anti-hero feel, atrocious visual effects, and an uninteresting plot and villain. — Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 5 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for sloppy

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1672, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of sloppy was in 1672

Phrases Containing sloppy

Rhymes for sloppy

See All Rhymes for sloppy

Browse Nearby Words

sloppiness
sloppy
sloppy joe
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sloppy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sloppy. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

sloppy

adjective
slop·​py ˈsläp-ē How to pronounce sloppy (audio)
sloppier; sloppiest
1
a
: wet so as to spatter easily : slushy
b
: wet with or as if with something slopped over
2
: slovenly, careless
a sloppy dresser
3
: overly sentimental
sloppily
ˈsläp-ə-lē How to pronounce sloppy (audio)
adverb
sloppiness
ˈsläp-ē-nəs
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on sloppy

Nglish: Translation of sloppy for Spanish Speakers

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