sleazy

1 of 2

adjective

slea·​zy ˈslē-zē 

also ˈslā-

sleazier; sleaziest

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 

also ˈslā-

adverb

sleaziness

ˈslē-zē-nəs 

also ˈslā-

noun

sleaziness

2 of 2

noun

slea·​zi·​ness -zēnə̇s 

-zin-

plural -es

: the state or quality of being sleazy

Synonyms of sleazy

Adjective

• corrupt
• perverted
• skanky
• slutty

Examples of sleazy in a Sentence

Adjective

a dancer in a sleazy outfit

a sleazy lothario who is always on the make

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Chrome’s trashy, thrashy playing wedded the urgency of punk with devotion to older, sleazy rock ’n’ roll. — Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2026

In The Idol Depp plays Jocelyn, a struggling pop star who becomes entangled with manipulative, sleazy nightclub owner Tedros (Tesfaye). — Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Sep. 2026

Allie is bamboozled by a sleazy musician, who serenades her with an ode to date rape. — Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 21 Aug. 2026

Has Trump said so much worse, so much more sleazy things against other people? — Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

origin unknown

First Known Use

Adjective

circa 1645, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for sleazy

• breezy
• cheesy
• easy
• queasy
• wheezy
• marchese
• speakeasy
• uneasy

Kids Definition

sleazy

adjective

slea·​zy ˈslē-zē 

also ˈslā-

sleazier; sleaziest

1

: not firm in texture : flimsy

2

: made carelessly of poor material : shoddy

sleazily

-zə-lē 

adverb

sleaziness

-zē-nəs 

noun