sleazy

adjective

slea·​zy ˈslē-zē How to pronounce sleazy (audio)
also ˈslā-
sleazier; sleaziest
Synonyms of sleazynext
1
a
: lacking firmness of texture : flimsy
b
: carelessly made of inferior materials : shoddy
2
a
: marked by low character or quality
sleazy tabloids
b
: squalid, dilapidated
sleazy bars
sleazily
ˈslē-zə-lē How to pronounce sleazy (audio)
also ˈslā-
adverb
sleaziness
ˈslē-zē-nəs How to pronounce sleazy (audio)
also ˈslā-
noun

Examples of sleazy in a Sentence

a dancer in a sleazy outfit a sleazy lothario who is always on the make
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.
The unabashed silliness of the plot does little to dilute the entertainment value of director Juan Piquer Simón's sleazy, cheesy fever dream. Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Jan. 2026 In the film, McAdams plays Linda, a timid employee who is stranded on a desert island with her sleazy boss (Dylan O’Brien) and begins to resort to a more primal personality. Jenelle Riley, Variety, 20 Jan. 2026 The Republican candidate was no mystery, a sleazy tabloid character since the 1970s, and the warnings about what his presidency would look like — including from GOP leadership that later bent the knee to the MAGA movement — have proved remarkably prescient. Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 18 Jan. 2026 Matty does this by engaging the Kingstons’ favorite tech whiz — a sleazy genius named Carl — to alter her old text-message chain with Belvin, to add a fake text where Matty gets angry with her friend for asking her to retrieve some personal effects from the office. Noel Murray, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sleazy

Word History

Etymology

origin unknown

First Known Use

circa 1645, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of sleazy was circa 1645

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Cite this Entry

“Sleazy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sleazy. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.

Kids Definition

sleazy

adjective
slea·​zy ˈslē-zē How to pronounce sleazy (audio)
also ˈslā-
sleazier; sleaziest
1
: not firm in texture : flimsy
2
: made carelessly of poor material : shoddy
sleazily adverb
sleaziness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on sleazy

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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