sloppy

adjective

slop·​py ˈslä-pē 

sloppier; sloppiest

1

a

: wet so as to spatter easily : slushy

a sloppy racetrack

b

: wet or smeared with or as if with something slopped over

2

: slovenly, careless

a sloppy dresser

did sloppy work

3

: disagreeably effusive

sloppy sentimentalism

sloppily

ˈslä-pə-lē 

adverb

sloppiness noun

Synonyms

• blowsy
• blowzy
• dowdy
• frowsy
• frowzy
• slobbish
• slobby
• sloven
• slovenly
• unkempt
• untidy

Examples of sloppy in a Sentence

Your work has been very sloppy lately.

a sloppy child who always seems to have spilled something on his clothes

Recent Examples on the Web

Sinner won a bizarre semifinal in his first tournament back from a three-month doping ban, while Alcaraz triumphed in a sloppy duel. —Sam Settleman, New York Times, 17 May 2025

State police said the issue was overblown as an independent report for Gov. Ned Lamont’s administration stated that the controversy was largely a problem of sloppy record-keeping, mistakes, and lack of training — and not intentional misconduct. —Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 13 May 2025

Denver defeated Gang Green 10-9 last season in a rainy, sloppy affair at MetLife Stadium. —Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 13 May 2025

In a sloppy affair that left rims at Ball Arena bruised and battered, the Thunder outlasted Denver 92-87 in Game 4 on Sunday afternoon to even the Western Conference semifinals at 2-2. —Luca Evans, Denver Post, 11 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1672, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing sloppy

• sloppy joe

Rhymes for sloppy

• choppy
• copy
• floppy
• poppy
• atopy
• photocopy

Kids Definition

sloppy

adjective

slop·​py ˈsläp-ē 

sloppier; sloppiest

1

a

: wet so as to spatter easily : slushy

b

: wet with or as if with something slopped over

2

: slovenly, careless

a sloppy dresser

3

: overly sentimental

sloppily

ˈsläp-ə-lē 

adverb

sloppiness

ˈsläp-ē-nəs

noun