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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sloppy
In 1982, Demond signed on to star as sloppy roommate Oscar Madison in the TV series The New Odd Couple.
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Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 31 Jan. 2026
As the most populous and sprawling county in the state, Fulton has often been tagged by Republicans as the bad egg among elections offices for its past record of long lines, late returns and sloppy bookkeeping.
—Patricia Murphy, AJC.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Officials say the scammers' schemes range from the savvy to the sloppy -- and all are brazen.
—ABC News, 28 Jan. 2026
The lone Democrat on the board and the chair have repeatedly objected, arguing the case is closed and citing multiple reviews that have found that while the county's 2020 elections were sloppy and poorly managed there was no evidence of intentional wrongdoing.
—Dan Raby, CBS News, 28 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sloppy
Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 31 Jan. 2026
As the most populous and sprawling county in the state, Fulton has often been tagged by Republicans as the bad egg among elections offices for its past record of long lines, late returns and sloppy bookkeeping.
—Patricia Murphy, AJC.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Officials say the scammers' schemes range from the savvy to the sloppy -- and all are brazen.
—ABC News, 28 Jan. 2026
The lone Democrat on the board and the chair have repeatedly objected, arguing the case is closed and citing multiple reviews that have found that while the county's 2020 elections were sloppy and poorly managed there was no evidence of intentional wrongdoing.
—Dan Raby, CBS News, 28 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sloppy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sloppy
Adjective
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In this case, that ball happens to be the complex that serves as the symbolic seat of the nation’s vibrant, messy, questioning, deeply political and hugely alive arts and culture scene.—
Jessica Gelt,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
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Scuffs and chips will show up quickly, requiring frequent touch-ups that can end up creating messy layers.—
Asia London Palomba,
The Spruce,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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His piece of genius separated the sides entering the 84th minute but during a chaotic finale, the hosts conspired to grab defeat from the jaws of victory.—
James Pearce,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
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But Biden quickly sank in the late summer and fall, due in large part to a chaotic Afghanistan withdrawal and rising prices.—
Craig Gilbert,
jsonline.com,
9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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For a kid of 16, a sentimental journey isn’t normally an especially long trip.—
Jody Mamone,
Hartford Courant,
11 Feb. 2026
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In the film from Gulfstream Pictures, which is currently in production in New Orleans, Iacono will play the role of sentimental, comic wingman Colin Davis.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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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
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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
Adjective
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Many people are confused because they’ve been placed in a new district.—
Rachel Royster,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Feb. 2026
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What’s troubling about the drop in vaccination rates, however, is that confused — and at times contradictory — public debate around vaccines has almost certainly driven that decline.—
Josh M. Shepherd,
The Orlando Sentinel,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Inspect them for rust and any sticky residue which can be wiped away with WD-40 (which also help keep the hinges lubricated).—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
10 Feb. 2026
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And inflation, while still sticky, has remained stable in recent months.—
Matt Richardson,
CBS News,
9 Feb. 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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This neighborhood, peopled almost entirely by the people who claim to have been driven from Poland and Russia, is the eyesore of New York and perhaps the filthiest place on the western continent.—
Alexandra Schwartz,
New Yorker,
9 Feb. 2026
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Rodents, roaches, flies and knives stored in filthy places were among the myriad violations on this week’s Sick and Shut Down List of South Florida restaurants that failed state inspection.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
6 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sloppy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sloppy. Accessed 17 Feb. 2026.
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