sketchier; sketchiest
1
: of the nature of a sketch : roughly outlined
2
: wanting in completeness, clearness, or substance : slight, superficial
the details are sketchy
3
: questionable, iffy
got into a sketchy situation
a sketchy character
sketchily adverb
sketchiness noun

Did you know?

The Varied Meanings of Sketchy

A sketch is a rough drawing usually done as an initial draft in contrast to a finished work. The word sketch suggests imperfection and a lack of refinement. It comes from the Dutch word schets and ultimately from the Italian verb schizzare, an imitative verb meaning "to splash."

Unsurprisingly, the adjective sketchy originally described something relating to or resembling a sketch, as in "a sketchy portrait." But because sketches are by nature rough and ill-defined, sketchy soon came to mean "wanting in completeness, clearness, or substance," as in "a sketchy understanding" or "sketchy details."

What lacks completeness, clearness, or substance is also subject to doubt or challenge, and sketchy went on to develop uses applying to what is questionable or iffy, either for physically obvious qualities or for something less tangible. In sports we see this sense of sketchy applied to a track or surface that is poorly maintained, as in "a sketchy track," and in broader use it is applied to streets and neighborhoods that can also be described as seedy, as in "a sketchy part of town."

The adjective has more recently extended in use to describe someone who creates an impression of unsavoriness, or something that comes from an untrustworthy source or is itself untrustworthy, as in "a sketchy dude" or "a scheme that sounds sketchy."

Examples of sketchy in a Sentence

The details about the accident are still a little sketchy. I have only a sketchy idea of how it works.
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.
On Monday, the U.S. and Chinese governments announced a trade deal, though the details of the U.S.-China pact are still sketchy. Lori Ann Larocco, CNBC, 12 May 2025 Goggins made his hosting debut on Saturday night, while Arcade Fire returned for their sixth appearance on the sketchy comedy series. Mckinley Franklin, HollywoodReporter, 10 May 2025 The first part of the race was really sketchy trying to steer through situations and change lanes, but really proud of our team. Mohammed Soliman, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Apr. 2025 If a place seems sketchy, splurge a couple of hundred dollars on a hotel room. Chloe Arrojado, AFAR Media, 23 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sketchy

Word History

First Known Use

1805, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of sketchy was in 1805

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sketchy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sketchy. Accessed 21 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

sketchy

adjective
sketchier; sketchiest
1
: of the nature of a sketch : roughly outlined
2
: lacking completeness, clearness, or substance : slight, vague

More from Merriam-Webster on sketchy

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!