sloppy

1 of 2

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

sloppiness

2 of 2

noun

slop·​pi·​ness

-pēnə̇s, 

-pin-

plural -es

: the quality or state of being sloppy

Synonyms of sloppy

Adjective

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

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

Adjective

Charlotte won the rebound battle 51 to 44, but left the Pistons open way too often and were sloppy with the ball, committing 25 turnovers. — Charlotte Observer, 3 Nov. 2026

The Lakers were sloppy with the basketball, turning it over 22 times. — Broderick Turner, Los Angeles Times, 2 Nov. 2026

Washington pulled together after an extraordinarily sloppy first quarter to score 27 straight points in a 27-10 victory. — ABC News, 1 Nov. 2026

Following a sloppy start Friday on the offensive end and an underwhelming start on the defensive end, the Heat flipped a switch midway through the second quarter to take complete control of the game. — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 31 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

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