as in sentimentality
the state or quality of having an excess of tender feelings (as of love, nostalgia, or compassion)
the tearful sloppiness that you find in so many country-and-western songs
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Recent Examples of sloppiness
At the other end, Brown was atoning for his early sloppiness by igniting the Celtics’ offense.
—
Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 3 Dec. 2025
At that point, the day had been characterized by sloppiness and frustration, with Bears pass catchers failing to secure at least a half-dozen catchable throws from their quarterback and, on three occasions, bungling fourth-down opportunities.
—Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025
Lee ignores them, and his self-serving need to fix things and soothe his own sense of injustice leads to sloppiness.
—Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 10 Nov. 2025
Players and coaches downplayed the difference between playing in the United States and England, despite the typically sloppiness of European games and the Jaguars’ familiarity with this routine with annual trips to the United Kingdom.
—Adam Grosbard, Oc Register, 18 Oct. 2025
Even as the offense moved the ball downfield, there was more sloppiness from Buffalo, which had a false start on the drive and two declined penalties on the decisive third down.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 6 Oct. 2025
Jakob Marsee scored the tiebreaking run on an error and the Miami Marlins took advantage of sloppiness by the host New York Mets to earn a 7-4 win in the opener of a four-game series between the National League East rivals on Thursday.
—Miami Herald, 29 Aug. 2025
Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 3 Dec. 2025
At that point, the day had been characterized by sloppiness and frustration, with Bears pass catchers failing to secure at least a half-dozen catchable throws from their quarterback and, on three occasions, bungling fourth-down opportunities.
—Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025
Lee ignores them, and his self-serving need to fix things and soothe his own sense of injustice leads to sloppiness.
—Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 10 Nov. 2025
Players and coaches downplayed the difference between playing in the United States and England, despite the typically sloppiness of European games and the Jaguars’ familiarity with this routine with annual trips to the United Kingdom.
—Adam Grosbard, Oc Register, 18 Oct. 2025
Even as the offense moved the ball downfield, there was more sloppiness from Buffalo, which had a false start on the drive and two declined penalties on the decisive third down.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 6 Oct. 2025
Jakob Marsee scored the tiebreaking run on an error and the Miami Marlins took advantage of sloppiness by the host New York Mets to earn a 7-4 win in the opener of a four-game series between the National League East rivals on Thursday.
—Miami Herald, 29 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sloppiness
Noun
-
Much of Hurry Up Tomorrow sees the Weeknd trying to make peace with his transformation—wrestling with the old habits that haunt him, watching his legacy slip away, recognizing the limits of hedonism, navigating nostalgia and sentimentality.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 Jan. 2026
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Taurus’s affinity with sentimentality and enduring love will draw them to this magical story that transcends lifetimes and generations for these soulmates to unite.—
Lisa Stardust,
PEOPLE,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The Academy historically goes for sentimentalism.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
4 Oct. 2025
-
McBride is less interested in exploring another motivation for saving locks of hair: the particular sentimentalism that made people cherish the hair of loved ones, especially those who had died, or of honored forebears.—
Margaret Talbot,
New Yorker,
21 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sloppiness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sloppiness. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
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