1
2
as in bastard
a person whose behavior is offensive to others
a real sleaze who is constantly mooching off friends, and friends of friends
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in cheese
that which is of low quality or worth
the TV networks wouldn't be airing such sleaze if the public wasn't watching it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sleaze
The guy was a sleaze, but there’s a pretty big gap between sleaziness and murderousness.
—
Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 12 Dec. 2025
The music sounds like a terrible Brooklyn electro indie-sleaze band opening for Crystal Castles or Yachts at Studio B, then rushing home to make sure the Tivo caught Gossip Girl.
—Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 22 Nov. 2025
However, unlike that film's director, Claire Denis, Rollin is never afraid to indulge in camp, and occasionally outright sleaze, to juice his narrative at just the right moments.
—Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Oct. 2025
A touch of sleaze floated across this upscale-at-first-glance wardrobe.
—Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 30 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sleaze
Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 12 Dec. 2025
The music sounds like a terrible Brooklyn electro indie-sleaze band opening for Crystal Castles or Yachts at Studio B, then rushing home to make sure the Tivo caught Gossip Girl.
—Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 22 Nov. 2025
However, unlike that film's director, Claire Denis, Rollin is never afraid to indulge in camp, and occasionally outright sleaze, to juice his narrative at just the right moments.
—Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Oct. 2025
A touch of sleaze floated across this upscale-at-first-glance wardrobe.
—Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 30 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sleaze
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sleaze
Noun
-
Nora Ephron for depressed perverts.—
Antonia Blyth,
Deadline,
16 Feb. 2026
-
You are being spied on by a pervert.—
Jay Ruttenberg,
New Yorker,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The new breakfast and lunch restaurant from Fonda San Miguel owner Tom Gilliland is as beautiful and serene as a four-star Mexican hotel and the empanada — firm but flaky, stuffed with quince jam and edged by baked manchego cheese — was sweet, savory and gooey with a nice touch of umami.—
Matthew Odam,
Austin American Statesman,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Another iconic Tex-Mex dish is enchiladas, a soft taco covered in sauce that can be filled with beef, chicken or cheese.—
Imelda García,
Dallas Morning News,
2 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Lunar eclipses happen when the Earth passes directly between the sun and moon, casting a gigantic shadow that creeps across the moon’s surface.—
Paul Rogers,
Mercury News,
25 Feb. 2026
-
The sun shines brighter over Madison Square Garden these days, especially during the playoffs, when long-dormant expectation creeps back in.—
Tom Kludt,
Vanity Fair,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
No gasoline from water taxis, no jerk smoke from a beach shack, no sunscreen haze wafting off a catamaran day trip.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 Feb. 2026
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But with Chase alternating between sunny tour guide and cagey sparring partner, Zenovich manages to surgically separate jerk from unconventional genius, as well as the wounded man underneath.—
Ben Crandell,
Sun Sentinel,
25 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The fallout includes damaged reputations, irate customers and lost confidence and early final resting places at junk yards.—
Ed Sokalski,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Feb. 2026
-
While no crew member appears to have been in any danger, the incident highlights how space junk continues to be a major problem for humanity’s presence in space.—
Victor Tangermann,
Futurism,
26 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
After spending a decade and a half in the brains of a meth kingpin and a slimeball attorney, Gilligan wanted his next protagonist to be a force for good.—
Ethan Shanfeld,
Variety,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Now, these slimeballs no longer pose a threat to public safety.—
Greg Norman,
FOXNews.com,
18 July 2025
Noun
-
Heated Rivalry is okay, but for Connor Storrie clown is more easy.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
1 Mar. 2026
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In front of him, idolatrous Republican lawmakers popped up and down to applaud like clowns in wind-up music boxes of old.—
Jackie Calmes,
Mercury News,
27 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Piles of human scraps offer a bottomless buffet to wildlife, and to access that bounty, animals need to be bold enough to rummage through human rubbish but not so bold as to become a threat to people.—
Marina Wang,
Scientific American,
14 Nov. 2025
-
Helga once wrestled down a drunk fisherman in the Café, a man of above-average size, and then threw him out like a piece of rubbish; Jens thus transfers most of his weight automatically to her; who is this kid, by the way?—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sleaze.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sleaze. Accessed 4 Mar. 2026.
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