1
as in corrupt
having loose sexual morals
a sleazy lothario who is always on the make
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in cheap
of low quality
a sleazy yellow coat that was marked down to practically nothing and not worth even that
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in flimsy
being of a material lacking in sturdiness or substance
these cheap, sleazy curtains would do a poor job of blocking those wintertime blasts of cold air
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in dilapidated
showing signs of advanced wear and tear and neglect
several letters in the sleazy motel's neon "vacancy" sign had burned out
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 sleazy
And with facial recognition capabilities on the horizon, there’s a compelling argument to be made for less-than-passive resistance to the sleazy new devices.
—
Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 25 Feb. 2026
Among the other supporting roles, the most challenging to cast, the team agrees, was that of Euclides, the sleazy police chief.
—Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 24 Feb. 2026
This spectacle, while sleazy and unsettling, was hardly a departure from the status quo.
—Annie Levin, Washington Post, 10 Feb. 2026
That arrangement was sleazy enough.
—Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 3 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sleazy
Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 25 Feb. 2026
Among the other supporting roles, the most challenging to cast, the team agrees, was that of Euclides, the sleazy police chief.
—Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 24 Feb. 2026
This spectacle, while sleazy and unsettling, was hardly a departure from the status quo.
—Annie Levin, Washington Post, 10 Feb. 2026
That arrangement was sleazy enough.
—Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 3 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sleazy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sleazy
Adjective
-
Today, Christians observe Good Friday — a day when corrupt religious and political forces crucified Jesus of Nazareth as a common criminal on a rubbish heap outside the city walls of Jerusalem.—
Peter Cook,
New York Daily News,
3 Apr. 2026
-
First there’s Phil Reizenstein, who, during a long career plumbing the depths of Magic City jurisprudence, has represented a former telenovela actor who killed a motorist in a road rage incident, as well as a DEA agent in an investigation into corrupt activities.—
Nate Freeman,
Vanity Fair,
3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Hungarians living near the southern frontier, where Orbán made a show of building a border fence during the refugee crisis, are travelling to Croatia to buy cheap groceries.—
Kapil Komireddi,
New Yorker,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Ukraine has developed expertise to destroy them through electronic jamming as well as using small, cheap interceptor drones to blow up the Shahed drones.—
NPR Staff,
NPR,
10 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
While other contestants achieved varying results by playing it straight, Rhod Gilbert tied up Horne instead, leaving Horne unable to untie the flimsy rope that Gilbert fastened around his own wrists.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Building and construction unions no longer can use their old rhetorical cudgel in this debate — calling prefab homes flimsy and unsafe.—
U T Editorial Board,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The state Department of Corrections is in strikingly similar dire straits with dilapidated prisons and a decreasing number of COs.—
Steve Zeidman,
New York Daily News,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Ross saved the Miami Open, moving it from a dilapidated Key Biscayne venue, and retrofitting Hard Rock Stadium’s grounds for it.—
Omar Kelly,
Miami Herald,
24 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
This creates a jarring effect as the significance of her busy endeavours is sublimated by the perverted impulse to judge her physical form.—
Sophie Monks Kaufman,
IndieWire,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Udo Kier is the perverted master of ceremonies in this three-ring circus of deviancy from director Paul Morrissey, which takes Frankenstein’s romantic necrophilia and distills it to its glistening, taboo essence.—
Katie Rife,
Vulture,
9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Arsenal were pretty poor but won, Sporting were pretty good but lost.—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Ackman blamed its poor share price performance partly on the delay of UMG’s listing in the United States.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
7 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
For a tropical, frothy twist, swap half the grenadine for pineapple juice.—
LP O'Brien,
AJC.com,
5 Apr. 2026
-
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, beat the egg whites, salt and cream of tartar on medium speed until frothy, about 1 minute.—
Erin Merhar,
Southern Living,
4 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
When first performed at L.A. Opera a decade ago, the lavish production, co-produced with English National Opera, helped recover a neglected opera.—
Classical Music Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
-
His refusal to weaponize suffering is one of his most important — and most neglected— lessons.—
Ed Gaskin,
Boston Herald,
15 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sleazy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sleazy. Accessed 11 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
