sloppy

adjective

slop·​py ˈslä-pē How to pronounce sloppy (audio)
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 adverb
sloppiness noun

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
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.
Dollar General also has paid millions of dollars of fines for sloppy stores and blocked fire exits that became both workplace safety hazards and potential turnoffs for its shoppers. Melissa Repko, NBC News, 5 Dec. 2024 In a sloppy game that included 21 penalties between the teams, the Bears got in the end zone just once — their only offensive touchdown of the first two weeks. Chicago Tribune, 30 Nov. 2024 The sections with sticky, sloppy mud and hog ruts threatened to take the shoes right off our feet. Patrick Connolly, Orlando Sentinel, 28 Nov. 2024 This could make conditions a sloppy mess Friday at airports in the Boston area and for people traveling along the nearby Interstate-95 corridor. Mary Gilbert, CNN, 26 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for sloppy 

Word History

First Known Use

1672, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of sloppy was in 1672

Dictionary Entries Near sloppy

Cite this Entry

“Sloppy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sloppy. Accessed 9 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

sloppy

adjective
slop·​py ˈsläp-ē How to pronounce sloppy (audio)
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 adverb
sloppiness
ˈsläp-ē-nəs
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on sloppy

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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