1
as in messy
lacking neatness in dress or person
a sloppy child who always seems to have spilled something on his clothes
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in chaotic
lacking in order, neatness, and often cleanliness
dumped the papers in a sloppy pile on the desk
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in sentimental
appealing to the emotions in an obvious and tiresome way
a cinematic romance with a sloppy musical score that will have audiences reaching for their handkerchiefs
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sloppy
Across the pitch, Newcastle were sloppy and disjointed.
—
George Caulkin, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2025
This team isn’t talented enough to beat the Ravens with errors and sloppy operation.
—Miami Herald, 30 Oct. 2025
Shares of Target have tumbled about 35% in the last year, as its own merchandising issues, a sloppier store experience and boycotts over its rollback of diversity, equity and inclusion programs all weigh on its business.
—Melissa Repko, CNBC, 29 Oct. 2025
Skin-tight is out, baggy is in, and these buttery-soft pieces prove that comfort doesn’t have to equal sloppy.
—Katie Ann Lehman, StyleCaster, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sloppy
George Caulkin, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2025
This team isn’t talented enough to beat the Ravens with errors and sloppy operation.
—Miami Herald, 30 Oct. 2025
Shares of Target have tumbled about 35% in the last year, as its own merchandising issues, a sloppier store experience and boycotts over its rollback of diversity, equity and inclusion programs all weigh on its business.
—Melissa Repko, CNBC, 29 Oct. 2025
Skin-tight is out, baggy is in, and these buttery-soft pieces prove that comfort doesn’t have to equal sloppy.
—Katie Ann Lehman, StyleCaster, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sloppy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sloppy
Adjective
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But a big, beautiful, and sometimes messy public square that belongs to us all.—
Yolanda Watson Spiva,
Fortune,
8 Nov. 2025
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The best heroes are beloved because their choices — admirable, messy, or otherwise — are hard ones made in service of something greater.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Paul’s chaotic yet candid nature quickly uplifted her to reality TV icon status, so much so that ABC named her their next star of The Bachelorette.—
McKinley Franklin,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Nov. 2025
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Dispatch recordings from firefighters who were first on the scene at Miami Heat Coach Erik Spoelstra’s home early Thursday reveal a chaotic and fast-moving fire that left crews scrambling to find water and to contain the spreading flames.—
Milena Malaver,
Miami Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Yet other filmmakers pick up on the thread of romantic longing Whale introduced in 1935 with The Bride of Frankenstein, leading to films like Edward Scissorhands (1990) in which the monster becomes a sentimental anti-hero.—
Katie Rife,
Vulture,
9 Nov. 2025
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Family heirlooms or sentimental items might not be used frequently (or at all), but the emotional attachment to these things is worth the valuable space on your storage shelves.—
Emily Williams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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To Washington, a beard made a man look unkempt and slovenly, masking the higher emotions that civility required.—
Maurizio Valsania,
The Conversation,
2 Oct. 2025
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The other near certainty in Lead Actor should be Gary Oldman, who anchors Slow Horses with a slovenly charisma that is, against all odds, deeply watchable.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
24 May 2025
Adjective
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Prince Harry's hat choice confused fans, who believed the royal should have been rooting for the Toronto Blue Jays due to Canada’s link to the United Kingdom.—
Lauryn Overhultz,
FOXNews.com,
7 Nov. 2025
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George Catts, the city council’s agricultural commissioner who led the parade atop his horse, was confused.—
Patrick Salland,
Kansas City Star,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Next, add the pumpkin and peanut butter and blend until the mixture is sticky.—
Cody Godwin,
USA Today,
7 Nov. 2025
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At the heart of this first of what could be many such trials is the premise that social media and its algorithms and sticky attraction have harsh consequences of thoughts of suicide, depression, sleep disruption, eating disorders, body dysmorphia, and anxiety.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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The couple slept on a filthy mattress on the floor with their 4-year-old son, Stephano.—
Daniel Gonzalez,
AZCentral.com,
6 Nov. 2025
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The big comedy set pieces overwhelm Miller’s attempts at satire, but any movie that has Nicholson casually dropping filthy double (and single) entendres beneath arched eyebrows is worth a look.—
Keith Phipps,
Vulture,
31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Some of the diciest action – and most frustrating nights – for Powell involved sprinting across wet cobblestones or through a graveyard full of smoke in the dark.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
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Otherwise, the state or large cities would need to pay huge sums to fellow CAP users to persuade them to forgo their water and let more vulnerable users stay wet.—
Austin Corona,
AZCentral.com,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sloppy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sloppy. Accessed 12 Nov. 2025.
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