lousy

adjective

ˈlau̇-zē 

lousier; lousiest

1

: infested (see infest sense 2) with lice

The ragged, lousy tribesmen …

—T. 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

ˈlau̇-zə-lē 

adverb

lousiness

ˈlau̇-zē-nəs 

noun

Synonyms of lousy

• lame
• pitiful
• cheap
• wretched
• dirty
• nasty
• mean
• disgusting
• hateful

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

Wind made conditions even chillier and the overnight cold refroze roads early Monday in a cruel reprise of the weekend’s lousy travel weather. —Kate Brumback, Los Angeles Times, 26 Jan. 2026

The present and past are lousy predictors of the future. —John Tamny, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026

Rose is a micromanager, and lousy in a crisis. —Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 13 Jan. 2026

Both left office humbled, burdened with lousy poll numbers and facing a well of deep voter discontent. —Mark Z. Barabak, Mercury News, 7 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing lousy

• feel lousy
• lousy with

Rhymes for lousy

• drowsy

Kids Definition

lousy

adjective

ˈlau̇-zē 

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

-zē-nəs 

noun

Medical Definition

lousy

adjective

ˈlau̇-zē 

lousier; lousiest

: infested with lice