sloppy

adjective

slop·​py ˈslä-pē How to pronounce sloppy (audio)
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 adverb
sloppiness noun

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
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.
Driving Challenges tackle rock gardens, blind drop-offs, and water crossings where sloppy throttle work comes at a cost. Shelby Knick, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025 Thus far, the Wind Down delivers with its clean lines, deep cushions, and just-right balance of softness and structure that is far from sloppy—even with her young child is known to practice high dives and a somersaults or two. Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 26 June 2025 Photo of the day: The Bayou Bengals celebrate in Omaha After winning a mesmerizing pitching duel in Saturday night’s College World Series opener, LSU took advantage of Coastal Carolina’s sloppy start and won, 5-3, on Sunday, to capture the eighth national championship in program history. Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 24 June 2025 With Robert Shaw's Quint previously chomped to death and Richard Dreyfuss' Hooper too smart to return for sloppy seconds, the sequel follows the Brody clan (Roy Scheider's Martin, Lorraine Gary's Eileen, and not-so-little-anymore Michael and Sean). Chris Nashawaty, EW.com, 20 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for sloppy

Word History

First Known Use

1672, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of sloppy was in 1672

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sloppy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sloppy. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.

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 adverb
sloppiness
ˈsläp-ē-nəs
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on sloppy

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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