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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Recent Examples of sketchy
Our flustered narrator attempts to defend himself on the grounds of sketchy reporting ethics—don’t some interviewers take notes and extrapolate later?
—
Hannah Gold, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026
The live sketchy comedy variety show is based on the original American version and will follow the same format of having a host and a musical guest each week in front of a live audience.
—Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 21 Mar. 2026
Facebook is testing similar alerts for friend requests that show red flags—things like no mutual friends, a foreign location, or generally sketchy account activity will trigger the alerts.
—Alexei Oreskovic, Fortune, 12 Mar. 2026
From checking a sketchy profile to confirming if a number belongs to a scammer, with ClarityCheck, users have the opportunity to become their own first line of defense.
—Kaitlyn Gomez, USA Today, 24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sketchy
Hannah Gold, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026
The live sketchy comedy variety show is based on the original American version and will follow the same format of having a host and a musical guest each week in front of a live audience.
—Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 21 Mar. 2026
Facebook is testing similar alerts for friend requests that show red flags—things like no mutual friends, a foreign location, or generally sketchy account activity will trigger the alerts.
—Alexei Oreskovic, Fortune, 12 Mar. 2026
From checking a sketchy profile to confirming if a number belongs to a scammer, with ClarityCheck, users have the opportunity to become their own first line of defense.
—Kaitlyn Gomez, USA Today, 24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sketchy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sketchy
Adjective
-
The totals are incomplete because agencies like the FBI have found ways to access the data without reporting the searches publicly, said Elizabeth Goitein, senior director of the Liberty and National Security Program at the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Missing lab work, an incomplete prior authorization or a documentation error can often be corrected and then resubmitted.—
Jay Sparks,
USA Today,
15 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The roundabout near Zalaegerszeg is not the only unfinished or unhelpful project in Hungary to have received EU funds.—
Christian Edwards,
CNN Money,
11 Apr. 2026
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The person who should have the unfinished-story-line gripe is Jane, who would ideally be back with a vengeance.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
11 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
This year, the administration’s budget proposal doesn’t include a hard deadline for phasing out SLS and Orion, just the vaguer request to look for commercial alternatives.—
Sana Pashankar,
Fortune,
11 Apr. 2026
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There’s just sort of vague purple-ish themes throughout the special.—
Deputy Entertainment,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The motive for the attack remains unclear.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 Apr. 2026
-
The cause and nature of the man's death remain unclear as the investigation began on Sunday.—
Dean Fioresi,
CBS News,
13 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Discernment is everything under this hazy transit.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Art from his personal collection fills the public spaces, and the rooms have red-stone baths, sofas detailed with luggage-style straps, and headboards painted in hazy ombres to match the sunrise.—
Travel + Leisure Editors,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sketchy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sketchy. Accessed 18 Apr. 2026.
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