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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sloppy
In the 53rd minute, Tash Flint took advantage of a sloppy Washington turnover and blasted a shot from just beyond the box.
—
Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 28 Mar. 2026
Texas looked sluggish and sloppy at times during the second half, but Kentucky (25-11) never got any closer than 15 points.
—Danny Davis, Austin American Statesman, 28 Mar. 2026
This was a better defensive effort for the Stars than their sloppy defeat Tuesday night at home against New Jersey.
—CBS News, 27 Mar. 2026
This was a better defensive effort for the Stars than their sloppy defeat Tuesday night at home against New Jersey.
—Dallas Morning News, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sloppy
Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 28 Mar. 2026
Texas looked sluggish and sloppy at times during the second half, but Kentucky (25-11) never got any closer than 15 points.
—Danny Davis, Austin American Statesman, 28 Mar. 2026
This was a better defensive effort for the Stars than their sloppy defeat Tuesday night at home against New Jersey.
—CBS News, 27 Mar. 2026
This was a better defensive effort for the Stars than their sloppy defeat Tuesday night at home against New Jersey.
—Dallas Morning News, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sloppy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sloppy
Adjective
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The fact that the President is now signalling a messy retreat has nothing to do with insufficient lethality and everything to do with politics—in particular, the alarm in the global oil markets and the American public’s widespread opposition to the war.—
Benjamin Wallace-Wells,
New Yorker,
3 Apr. 2026
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Over beats as blunt, chromatic, and gleefully stupid as a Jeff Koons sculpture, the singer has vied to make hyperpop more garish and alarming by being hornier, messier, and more extreme than her peers.—
Harry Tafoya,
Pitchfork,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The fan disappointment was echoed in the community dedicated to Barbie on Reddit, where many called out the organizers for such a chaotic event.—
Rebecca Cohen,
NBC news,
30 Mar. 2026
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The footage captures a chaotic moment many pet owners recognize instantly—when curiosity tips over into trouble.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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But Prairie Village is a sentimental spot for Bracco and his wife.—
Jenna Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
31 Mar. 2026
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None of the people close to them care about it because the majority of the people that are advising kids now are agents who are looking at it from a business perspective, or families that are not sentimental about any of this.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
29 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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And this is where the movie takes off from retro mythology to become its own slovenly mod thing.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
4 Mar. 2026
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To Washington, a beard made a man look unkempt and slovenly, masking the higher emotions that civility required.—
Maurizio Valsania,
The Conversation,
2 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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When the director approached Hanks directly, the actor was confused.—
Samantha Agate,
Miami Herald,
28 Mar. 2026
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After catching confused glances all through Venice, traversing neighborhoods and winding along Abbott Kinney, the group landed at the home of Matt Ricotta.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Equal parts creature feature and Florida noir, Mermaid is sticky, sunburned, and defiantly strange.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
31 Mar. 2026
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Maurer imagines blending the fungi with Martian or lunar dirt; their sticky mycelia would cement it into an extraterrestrial equivalent of particle board.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Yellowing leaves can indicate overwatering, while wrinkled leaves can point to underwatering.—
Madeline Buiano,
Martha Stewart,
8 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The Space Marines are attempting to reclaim Kronus from the filthy xenos on the planet, leading a heroic charge into a massive Ork army as the Necrons rise again.—
Fran Ruiz,
Space.com,
29 Mar. 2026
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The woman was taken to the Fort Worth jail, by then best described as an old, filthy, rat-infested hole in the basement of city hall.—
Kevin Foster,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
28 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sloppy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sloppy. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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