sloppy

adjective

slop·​py ˈslä-pē 

sloppier; sloppiest

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 

adverb

sloppiness noun

Synonyms of sloppy

• messy
• slovenly
• wrinkled
• shaggy
• untidy
• unkempt
• filthy
• dowdy
• chaotic

Examples of sloppy in a Sentence

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

His goal, Chelsea’s first, came courtesy of a Jaydee Canvot mistake, as Estevao was sent racing clear following a sloppy backpass. —Tom Burrows, New York Times, 26 Jan. 2026

Drake Maye ran for 68 yards and threw for 86 in sloppy, snowy conditions, propelling the New England Patriots to their 12th Super Bowl with a 10-7 win over the Denver Broncos. —Arnie Stapleton, Chicago Tribune, 25 Jan. 2026

Drake Maye ran for 68 yards and threw for 86 in sloppy, snowy conditions and scored New England’s only touchdown on a six-yard keeper, propelling the Patriots to their 12th Super Bowl with a 10-7 win over the Denver Broncos on Sunday. —Los Angeles Times, 25 Jan. 2026

Why vocabulary avoidance creates the space populists fill European governments spent a decade learning that sloppy language inflames prejudice. —Güney Yıldız, Forbes.com, 24 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1672, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing sloppy

• sloppy joe

Rhymes for sloppy

• choppy
• copy
• floppy
• poppy
• atopy
• photocopy

Kids Definition

sloppy

adjective

slop·​py ˈsläp-ē 

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 

adverb

sloppiness

ˈsläp-ē-nəs

noun