seamy

adjective

ˈsē-mē 

seamier; seamiest

1

archaic : having the rough side of the seam showing

2

a

: unpleasant

b

: degraded, sordid

the seamy side of urban life

seaminess noun

Examples of seamy in a Sentence

She was involved in a seamy corruption scandal.

Recent Examples on the Web

More than two decades ago, Lambert, 42, began her run as one of the genre’s only female superstars of the modern era, a tough-talking spitfire with a keen ability to write bracingly detailed songs about the seamier sides of life. — Katie McCurdy, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2026

But the Stones’ undying love of blues shines through in 18 songs that revel in the seamy underbelly of America. — René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 8 July 2026

Or does the new political reality demand engagement with the seamier side of politics? — Karrin Vasby Anderson, Washington Post, 10 Feb. 2026

But Nuzzi’s revelations about Kennedy seem anticlimactic following the even more seamy stories shared by Lizza on his Telos News Substack posts. — Martha Ross, Mercury News, 2 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1605, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for seamy

• creamy
• dreamy
• steamy

Kids Definition

seamy

adjective

ˈsē-mē 

seamier; seamiest

: not pleasing or presentable : sordid

the seamy side of the city

seaminess noun