SLOPPY (sloppier, sloppiest)

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

Irregular inflected forms: sloppier    , sloppiest   

 Dictionary entry overview: What does sloppy mean? 

• SLOPPY (adjective)
  The adjective SLOPPY has 6 senses:

1. lacking neatness or order

2. wet or smeared with a spilled liquid or moist material

3. (of soil) soft and watery

4. not fitting closely; hanging loosely

5. excessively or abnormally emotional

6. marked by great carelessness

  Familiarity information: SLOPPY used as an adjective is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SLOPPY (adjective)

Comparative: sloppier   
Superlative: sloppiest   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Lacking neatness or order

Context example:

sloppy habits

Similar:

untidy (not neat and tidy)

Derivation:

sloppiness (a lack of order and tidiness; not cared for)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Wet or smeared with a spilled liquid or moist material

Context example:

a sloppy saucer

Similar:

wet (covered or soaked with a liquid such as water)

Derivation:

sloppiness (the wetness of ground that is covered or soaked with water)

Sense 3

Meaning:

(of soil) soft and watery

Synonyms:

boggy; marshy; miry; mucky; muddy; quaggy; sloppy; sloughy; soggy; squashy; swampy; waterlogged

Context example:

swampy bayous

Similar:

wet (covered or soaked with a liquid such as water)

Derivation:

slop (deep soft mud in water or slush)

sloppiness (the wetness of ground that is covered or soaked with water)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Not fitting closely; hanging loosely

Synonyms:

baggy; loose-fitting; sloppy

Context example:

a loose-fitting blouse is comfortable in hot weather

Similar:

loose (not tight; not closely constrained or constricted or constricting)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Excessively or abnormally emotional

Synonyms:

overemotional; sloppy

Similar:

emotional (of more than usual emotion)

Derivation:

slop (writing or music that is excessively sweet and sentimental)

sloppiness (falsely emotional in a maudlin way)

Sense 6

Meaning:

Marked by great carelessness

Synonyms:

haphazard; slapdash; slipshod; sloppy

Context example:

sloppy workmanship

Similar:

careless (marked by lack of attention or consideration or forethought or thoroughness; not careful)

Derivation:

sloppiness (the quality of not being careful or taking pains)

 Context examples 

So he bolted his breakfast, a sickly, sloppy affair, as rapidly as they, and heaved a sigh of relief when he passed out through the kitchen door.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

I burst into tears—I am afraid, my dear, you will think this a very sloppy letter in more ways than one—and I really felt very badly.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

The inhabitants appeared to have a propensity to throw any little trifles they were not in want of, into the road: which not only made it rank and sloppy, but untidy too, on account of the cabbage-leaves.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)