slatternly
adjective
slat·tern·ly
ˈsla-tərn-lē 
1
: untidy and dirty through habitual neglect
also
: careless, disorderly
2
: of, relating to, or characteristic of a slut or prostitute
slatternliness
noun
Examples of slatternly in a Sentence
the biography portrays the poet as a debauched scoundrel whose companions were slatternly women and not the chaste maids he celebrated in his lyrics
Recent Examples on the Web
This diorama includes a brawny male wax figure wearing Pampers who is stretched in agony on a rack, alongside a slatternly brunette with a suggestively slit skirt who is being flogged.
—
John Phillips, Car and Driver, 9 Jan. 2023
An influential Peruvian industrialist named Enrique is photographed in flagrante amid a heap of slatternly prostitutes.
—Dwight Garner, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2018
By sticking to Patti’s second-best status, and the deferred dreams of her slatternly mother, Barb (Bridget Everett), and her widowed, infirm grandmother, Nana (Cathy Moriarty), Jasper shows his condescension toward their toughness.
—Armond White, National Review, 18 Aug. 2017
The one who took best actress was Marie Mullen, who portrayed Maureen, a 40-year-old virgin shackled to her imperious, housebound mother, Mag (the splendidly slatternly Anna Manahan).
—Ben Brantley, New York Times, 15 Jan. 2017
John Phillips, Car and Driver, 9 Jan. 2023
An influential Peruvian industrialist named Enrique is photographed in flagrante amid a heap of slatternly prostitutes.
—Dwight Garner, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2018
By sticking to Patti’s second-best status, and the deferred dreams of her slatternly mother, Barb (Bridget Everett), and her widowed, infirm grandmother, Nana (Cathy Moriarty), Jasper shows his condescension toward their toughness.
—Armond White, National Review, 18 Aug. 2017
The one who took best actress was Marie Mullen, who portrayed Maureen, a 40-year-old virgin shackled to her imperious, housebound mother, Mag (the splendidly slatternly Anna Manahan).
—Ben Brantley, New York Times, 15 Jan. 2017
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'slatternly.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1677, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Dictionary Entries Near slatternly
Cite this Entry
“Slatternly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/slatternly. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
More from Merriam-Webster on slatternly
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for slatternly
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share