1
as in messy
lacking neatness in dress or person
a sloppy child who always seems to have spilled something on his clothes
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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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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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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of sloppy
For decades, Bears fans have grown accustomed to quarterbacks who can’t really recover from a sloppy start or — in the case of Williams’ predecessor, Justin Fields — quarterbacks who can’t consistently punctuate impressive performances with a game-winning finish.
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Dan Wiederer, Chicago Tribune, 31 Oct. 2024
After cooking the sweet and savory sloppy Joe filling, top with cheese and rolls, and bake for 10 minutes until the cheese is just melted.
Get The Recipe
42 of 60
Chicken-Bell Pepper Tacos
Ready in 20 minutes
Bell peppers make all the difference in this not-so-typical taco night meal.
—Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 27 Oct. 2024
It’s been a sloppy, uneven but ultimately interesting game so far.
—Rohan Nadkarni, NBC News, 15 Oct. 2024
Under the rising sun—around midnight in Manhattan—the destruction was revealed: sloppy gray craters pounded into the earth like graves, scorched nurseries, splintered cribs, clothes flapping like the flags of stillborn nations, and people half dead or fully dead, pallored in dust.
—Joshua Cohen, The New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for sloppy 
Dan Wiederer, Chicago Tribune, 31 Oct. 2024
After cooking the sweet and savory sloppy Joe filling, top with cheese and rolls, and bake for 10 minutes until the cheese is just melted.
Get The Recipe
42 of 60
Chicken-Bell Pepper Tacos
Ready in 20 minutes
Bell peppers make all the difference in this not-so-typical taco night meal.
—Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 27 Oct. 2024
It’s been a sloppy, uneven but ultimately interesting game so far.
—Rohan Nadkarni, NBC News, 15 Oct. 2024
Under the rising sun—around midnight in Manhattan—the destruction was revealed: sloppy gray craters pounded into the earth like graves, scorched nurseries, splintered cribs, clothes flapping like the flags of stillborn nations, and people half dead or fully dead, pallored in dust.
—Joshua Cohen, The New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for sloppy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sloppy
Adjective
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The chili cheese hot dog on a pickle was messy and logistically taxing to eat, as toppings toppled over the sides and juice flowed into the container.Annalise Frank, Axios, 4 Nov. 2024
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Despite the fixes, messy data in Washoe County’s legacy system made its way into the new system.Anjeanette Damon, ProPublica, 2 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Having studied the chaotic aftermath of the 2020 election, both were now eying plans to disrupt each of the procedural steps between Election Day and the Inauguration, such as the December 11th deadline for each state to ascertain a winner, and the December 17th meeting of each state’s electors.The New Yorker, The New Yorker, 5 Nov. 2024
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The chaotic summer of George Floyd protests, violent crime, and COVID-19 lockdowns are increasingly associated with the Left, even if Trump was president at the time.W. James Antle III, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 5 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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These channels, which come from all over the world, are like that, but without the sentimental backstories.Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2024
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The sentimental montage began with a clip of Jenn, 26, crying while confronting her ex-fiancé Devin Strader at the After the Final Rose ceremony.Esther Kang, People.com, 4 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Corruption within the organization, after all, is as much a part of the show as Jackson Lamb’s slovenly habits and horrible diet.Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2024
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To them, flame is slovenly, backward, even atavistic, tolerable only when used for ceremonial purposes.Stephen Pyne, Scientific American, 16 Apr. 2024
Adjective
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No matter how convinced someone might be that what’s inside each box is completely harmless, the mystery and misdirection of it all keep them confused and slightly scared.Drew Gerber, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
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That left a lot of Swifties sad, confused and wandering around, trying to find the bracelet sent from New Orleans.Arika Herron, Axios, 4 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Of course, anyone with a low tolerance for sugary sweet, sometimes sticky sentimentality would want to suck on a pack of lemons afterwards.Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 13 Nov. 2024
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To avoid a potentially sticky situation, go with one of these six leak-free options.Catherine Garcia, theweek, 12 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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As anyone who has ever played in the rain can attest, everything about the ball feels differently as the leather gets wet.Don Yaeger, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
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Prepare for wet weather, but a record-setting daily high temperature.Elissa Robinson, Detroit Free Press, 5 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Sofia’s haircut is an early sign of her rebellion; a shaggy mullet that calls back to Jane Fonda in the 1970s thriller Klute.Gavia Baker-Whitelaw, Vulture, 4 Nov. 2024
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Style insiders are going all in on the look, too; fashion month’s crowds were awash in brushed knits, and New Yorkers of all stripes have pulled out their shaggiest jumpers as sweater weather has descended upon the city.Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 4 Nov. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Sloppy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sloppy. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
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