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

The move comes after the Giants wrapped up their season-long nine-game homestand with a sloppy loss to the Colorado Rockies and held team meetings after the game. — Michael Nowels, Mercury News, 17 Aug. 2026

The game had all the trappings of a preseason opener, including some sloppy play on both sides. — CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026

Despite its intentionally roomy silhouette, the relaxed fit never veers into baggy or sloppy territory. — Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 14 Aug. 2026

Appeal rates also fell slightly, suggesting faster resolution wasn’t leading to sloppier decisions. — Edd Gent, IEEE Spectrum, 12 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