1
as in messy
lacking neatness in dress or person
a sloppy child who always seems to have spilled something on his clothes
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in chaotic
lacking in order, neatness, and often cleanliness
dumped the papers in a sloppy pile on the desk
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in sentimental
appealing to the emotions in an obvious and tiresome way
a cinematic romance with a sloppy musical score that will have audiences reaching for their handkerchiefs
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sloppy
Red Sox starter Brayan Bello was later victimized by some sloppy defense in the fifth.
—
Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 10 June 2025
Look for signs of DIY work — sloppy paint jobs, misaligned tiles, uneven cabinet installation, missing GFCI outlets, or my pet peeve: poorly done caulking.
—Dana Bull, CNBC, 9 June 2025
There were loud boos at half-time, a smattering in the closing minutes and a few more at the final whistle as England played without any real intensity, were sloppy in possession and struggled to break down a team more than happy to sit everyone behind the ball.
—Dan Sheldon, New York Times, 8 June 2025
Both players were sloppy in the first set, conceding 21 break-point chances and making 48 unforced errors between them, with Sabalenka making 32 yet still winning the set.
—Jerome Pugmire, Chicago Tribune, 7 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for sloppy
Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 10 June 2025
Look for signs of DIY work — sloppy paint jobs, misaligned tiles, uneven cabinet installation, missing GFCI outlets, or my pet peeve: poorly done caulking.
—Dana Bull, CNBC, 9 June 2025
There were loud boos at half-time, a smattering in the closing minutes and a few more at the final whistle as England played without any real intensity, were sloppy in possession and struggled to break down a team more than happy to sit everyone behind the ball.
—Dan Sheldon, New York Times, 8 June 2025
Both players were sloppy in the first set, conceding 21 break-point chances and making 48 unforced errors between them, with Sabalenka making 32 yet still winning the set.
—Jerome Pugmire, Chicago Tribune, 7 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for sloppy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sloppy
Adjective
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If a mess does happen, clean up spills or messy bakes early so that grime and grease don’t build up.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
29 June 2025
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This idea began to fray when early robot AI failed to handle messy, real-world conditions.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
29 June 2025
Adjective
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In the chaotic final stretch of the vote-a-rama, GOP leaders zeroed in on Murkowski, working to address her concerns about the bill’s financial effect on Alaska.—
Samantha-Jo Roth,
The Washington Examiner,
1 July 2025
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What surprised me the most Despite a chaotic global economy, brand spending reductions and a cautious outlook on growth, the spending and cash was flowing, flowing, flowing.—
David Doty,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2025
Adjective
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When the sun journeys through sentimental Cancer, there is a greater focus on home, family and emotional stability.—
Valerie Mesa,
People.com,
21 June 2025
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Spielberg's vision is sentimental yet feels so satisfying.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
20 June 2025
Adjective
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The other near certainty in Lead Actor should be Gary Oldman, who anchors Slow Horses with a slovenly charisma that is, against all odds, deeply watchable.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
24 May 2025
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Related Stories The movie O’Neil has put together out of this footage, which premiered last night at Cannes, is by any real-world standard a slovenly and undisciplined piece of work.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
19 May 2025
Adjective
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College admission often feels like a similar face-off between families, leaving them confused, concerned, and conjecturing.—
Brennan Barnard,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2025
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The text, translated from French, is presented partly in comics-style word bubbles, and the illustrations of confused, anxious, and increasingly exasperated animals tell a great story in any language.—
Caroline Carlson
June 30,
Literary Hub,
30 June 2025
Adjective
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Our formulas are oxybenzone-free, water- and sweat-resistant, and designed lightweight unlike typical sport sunscreens that leave you feeling sticky or break down in the heat of competition.—
Dave Knox,
Forbes.com,
27 June 2025
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Season 3, relentless in its examination of the sticky contours of Carm’s trauma, offered fewer bursts of that kind of respite.—
Sophie Gilbert,
The Atlantic,
26 June 2025
Adjective
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Anderson, who was also the Rays’ assistant pitching coach in 2008 and 2009, got his feet wet in the broadcast business in 2007 with Cleveland.—
Tom Layberger,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2025
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Groundwater banking captures surplus surface water during wet periods and deposits it in aquifers for future use.—
Matthew Kayser,
USA Today,
30 June 2025
Adjective
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Head out onto the water to sail around the archipelago, keeping your eyes peeled for breaching minke whales and bearded seals, as well as shaggy muskoxen—one of the few megafauna to survive the Ice Age—and Arctic wolves patrolling the shoreline.—
Chloe Berge,
Outside Online,
17 June 2025
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For the occasion, Taylor-Johnson kept his curls shaggy.—
Starr Bowenbank,
People.com,
16 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sloppy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sloppy. Accessed 6 Jul. 2025.
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