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sketchy

adjective

Definition of sketchynext
as in incomplete
not complete or clear or having a lot of details His memory of the incident was sketchy. Details are still sketchy, but there are rumors that next year's model will be completely redesigned.

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of sketchy There’s little scientific data on their safety and efficacy, and the many sketchy sellers who distribute them operate with no oversight. — Amy Feldman, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026 Both Dadeland Metrorail stations as well as the Douglas Road station are under extensive renovation, expansion or redevelopment, and trail connections through them are sketchy or missing altogether. — Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 16 July 2026 Losing Jacob Trouba, Olen Zellweger and Radko Gudas on top of that, while only adding Nick Jensen, leaves an already sketchy defense corps looking completely barren. — Dom Luszczyszyn, New York Times, 16 July 2026 The place is a time capsule with sketchy internet service, drunken frat boys, and — most crucially — Faye’s college boyfriend Henry, who is now married with two kids and still lives in the area. — Whitney Friedlander, Los Angeles Times, 13 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for sketchy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sketchy
  1. incomplete
  2. unfinished
  3. vague
  4. unclear
  5. hazy
Adjective
  • Instead, the fumble was ruled an incomplete pass, Clemson won 29-23 and the Buckeyes watched as Clemson got blown out 42-25 by LSU.
    — The Athletic College Football Staff, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026
  • One of the still incomplete recommendations made by the Office of Violence Prevention was to increase legal aid.
    — Connor Sheets, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of incomplete
Adjective
  • Mandela’s second volume of memoirs was unfinished at the time of his death in 2013.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 Sep. 2026
  • There is a sense of interruption throughout where the familiar is made slightly strange, and the unfinished is left intentionally exposed, giving the collections a setting that shifts with each new iteration.
    — Michael Anthony Hall, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of unfinished
Adjective
  • Visible, timely payments delivered through channels customers already trust, consistently outperform vague bill credits customers barely notice.
    — Amber Mullaney, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026
  • According to Morrison, the best candidates skip posts with vague or bloated requirements.
    — Audrey Payne, CNBC, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of vague
Adjective
  • While fire investigators took photographs of the scene and collected evidence, the extent of the fire or damage is unclear.
    — Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 8 Sep. 2026
  • For example, an enterprise may deploy an AI customer-service agent that achieves high technical accuracy, yet still fail because customers must repeat information, escalation paths are unclear and employees frequently override recommendations.
    — Ashwin Gaidhani, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of unclear
Adjective
  • Mercury opposes hazy Neptune, making expectations unclear and interruptions harder to manage.
    — Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 12 Sep. 2026
  • The moody music, polygonal characters that feel almost hieroglyphic, and text presented in a mix of English, ancient languages, and invented languages make for a hazy experience.
    — James Folta, Literary Hub, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of hazy

Browse Nearby Words

sketching
sketchy
skew
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sketchy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sketchy. Accessed 18 Sep. 2026.

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