sloppy

[ slop-ee ]

adjective

, slop·pi·er, slop·pi·est.

1. muddy, slushy, or very wet:

   The field was a sloppy mess after the rain.

2. splashed or soiled with liquid.

   Synonyms: messy

3. careless; loose:

   sloppy writing.

   Synonyms: slipshod

4. untidy; slovenly:

   sloppy clothes; a sloppy eater.

   Synonyms: slatternly, messy

5. overly emotional; gushy:

   sloppy sentimentality.

6. (of food or drink) prepared or served in an unappetizing way.
7. (of clothes) loose-fitting; baggy:

   a big, sloppy sweater.

8. (of the surface of a racetrack) wet from a recent or continuing heavy rain and containing puddles and mud still too thin and watery to be sticky.

sloppy

/ ˈslɒpɪ /

adjective

1. (esp of ground conditions, etc) wet; slushy
2. informal.
   careless; untidy
3. informal.
   mawkishly sentimental
4. (of food or drink) watery and unappetizing
5. splashed with slops
6. (of clothes) loose; baggy

Derived Forms

• ˈsloppily, adverb
• ˈsloppiness, noun

Other Words From

• sloppi·ly adverb
• sloppi·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of sloppy¹

First recorded in 1700–10; slop ¹ + -y ¹

Example Sentences

The alleged assassins behind several recent murder-for-hire cases in Los Angeles were sloppy, authorities say, leaving behind a trail of evidence that links the killings to Chicago gang disputes.

From Los Angeles Times

There are screen-based offerings as well, but the emphasis is often on the communal, as evidenced by the anyone-can-be-an-artist zaniness that is “Sloppy Forgeries.”

From Los Angeles Times

The alleged assassins behind several recent murder-for-hire cases in Los Angeles were sloppy, authorities say, leaving behind a trail of evidence that links the killings to Chicago gang disputes.

From Los Angeles Times

Outside of Bilodeau, who was a fount of offense with 23 points on eight-for-20 shooting to go with 15 rebounds, the sloppy Bruins failed to reliably get baskets.

From Los Angeles Times

Their defense faltered, their offense was sloppy and their only salvation on the way to a 41-30 halftime deficit was Bilodeau’s nine points and seven rebounds.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• awkward
• careless
• clumsy
• dirty
• mediocre
• muddy
• poor
• wet