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 of sloppy

• messy
• slovenly
• wrinkled
• shaggy
• untidy
• unkempt
• filthy
• dowdy
• chaotic

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

While the Crusaders were sloppy and done in by penalties, Lincoln-Way East played a mostly clean game. — Steve Millar, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026

In what turned about to be the final NFL game for iconic running back Jim Brown, Vince Lombardi's Packers navigated a sloppy Lambeau Field surface for an overwhelming victory. — Jim Reineking, USA Today, 24 Aug. 2026

But sloppy defending for Monza’s equalizer showed just why Inter signed England defenders Djed Spence and John Stones in the offseason. — ABC News, 22 Aug. 2026

If a claim is substantiated, the plagiarist is seen as sloppy or lazy at best, and fundamentally dishonest at worst. — Roger J. Kreuz, The Conversation, 21 Aug. 2026

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