lousier; lousiest
1
: infested (see infest sense 2) with lice
the ragged, lousy tribesmenT. E. Lawrence
2
a
: totally repulsive (see repulsive sense 3) : contemptible
a lousy way of getting even
b
: miserably poor or inferior
got lousy grades
c
: somewhat ill
felt lousy after dinner
d
: amply supplied : replete
lousy with money
3
of silk : fuzzy and specked because of splitting of the fiber
lousily adverb
lousiness noun

Examples of lousy in a Sentence

She got lousy grades in high school. I like the work, but the pay is lousy. He was a lousy husband. They did a lousy job. He drank too much and felt lousy the next morning. It's a lousy, rainy day. That's a lousy way to treat a friend.
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.
But a series of lousy draft picks and a lack of an attractive infrastructure — that imaginary permanent practice facility is being built any day now! — have kept them from acquiring the sort of superstars that carry teams in crunch time, the kind of difference-makers this town deserves. Bill Plaschke, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2025 Worse, this is the sort of thriller in which the stooges hired from Rent-a-Minion are such lousy shots that there’s never any doubt that all of them will eventually be terminated, either by Guy and his makeshift weaponry or their impatient employer. Joe Leydon, Variety, 27 June 2025 What human fantasy is more powerful than the do-over, the chance to relive your life and fix your lousy youthful decisions? Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 26 June 2025 Since that was a lousy year for markets, that net worth is probably higher now. Michael Foster, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for lousy

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of lousy was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Lousy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lousy. Accessed 10 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

lousy

adjective
lousier; lousiest
1
: infested with lice
2
a
: totally disgusting : contemptible
b
: of very poor quality
got lousy grades
c
: somewhat ill
felt lousy after dinner
d
: well supplied
lousy with money
lousiness noun

Medical Definition

lousy

adjective
lousier; lousiest
: infested with lice

More from Merriam-Webster on lousy

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