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as in poor
falling short of a standard I actually play a pretty lousy game of tennis

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of lousy Particularly in business, the present is a really lousy predictor of the future. John Tamny, Forbes, 26 Dec. 2024 Twenty-five years have passed since the Titans came painstakingly close to a Super Bowl title only to fall one lousy yard short. Nate Rau, Axios, 7 Feb. 2025 Frantically searching for an angle under his own basket, Amen Thompson tried to find Dillon Brooks but threw a lousy pass. C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 5 Feb. 2025 The fires have been lousy for wildlife as well as humans: Biologists were forced to rescue hundreds of endangered steelhead trout from the Santa Monica Mountains, before a storm arrived to bury them in a post-fire slurry of mud. Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 4 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for lousy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lousy
Adjective
  • As holidays go, however, Flag Day can feel a bit lame.
    Kevin Fisher-Paulson, San Francisco Chronicle, 8 June 2021
  • My 11-year-old loved watching the pups roll balls and play a giant floor piano, but for non-dog owners (guilty as charged), parts of the series—like dressing dogs in little hats and outfits for a Parisian fashion show—feel lame.
    Tim Neville, Outside Online, 23 Nov. 2020
Adjective
  • But shortly after its release, AT&T dropped the device’s price down to just $0.99 in what was an unmistakable sign of poor sales – and perhaps an indication that consumers didn’t want more Facebook on their phone other than in its app.
    Lisa Eadicicco, CNN, 17 Feb. 2025
  • Without education, students with disabilities face higher rates of poverty, unemployment, poor health, and social isolation.
    Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 17 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • This is, on paper, a terrible idea for all involved.
    Zak Garner-Purkis, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025
  • State of play: Cleveland is terrible at planting trees.
    Sam Allard, Axios, 26 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • James said Costco is more interested in providing a good value to its customers than a cheap price.
    Nicolas Vega, CNBC, 26 Feb. 2025
  • More upside than any of the legacy guys, cheaper, and far less drama than most of them.
    Mike DeFabo, The Athletic, 26 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • An upholstered stool, for instance, can bring a burst of color without making the space feel crowded.
    Wendy Vazquez, Southern Living, 22 Feb. 2025
  • Personal branding and thought leadership consulting Personal branding and thought leadership consulting are in high demand as professionals and entrepreneurs recognize the need to stand out in crowded markets.
    Melissa Houston, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Kubrick’s film is a hell of a black comedy that satirizes the mediocrity of middle-class life: In the director’s world, fathers are pitiful providers, mothers are blandly cheerful (while quietly suffering enormously), and the kids see far more than their parents do.
    Tim Grierson, Vulture, 21 Feb. 2025
  • The result was a pitiful offensive performance by Kansas City and one of the worst games of Mahomes’ career.
    Rohan Nadkarni, NBC News, 10 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Without any supporting facts alleging, political impropriety, unacceptable public safety threats, national security concerns, and the potential failure of not executing federal immigration initiatives and policies, all of which will have an impact on Adams’ ability to govern NYC.
    Arnold Kriss, New York Daily News, 18 Feb. 2025
  • Many of them will likely be seen in Kyiv as unacceptable.
    Ivana Kottasová, CNN, 18 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • There are so many horrible things happening in the world.
    Marta Balaga, Variety, 18 Feb. 2025
  • Still, a light at the end of this very horrible long tunnel might be a bit more visible at this time.
    Greg Palkot, Fox News, 15 Feb. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Lousy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lousy. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.

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