He said he dashed this proposal off in one sitting. It's pretty sloppy.
Source: tatoeba (282854)
Sloppy
/ˈslɑ.pi/
Synonyms for "sloppy" (320 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (64)
Adjective(18 words)
Adjective(1 words)
Noun(3 words)
Strong matches (96)
Adjective(20 words)
disorganized lessondisorganized methoddisorganized teachingfrowsiestfrowzierhaphazardhaphazard countinghaphazard efforthaphazard methodhasty writingheedlessill defined taskimprecise reasoninginattentiveineffective styleirregular layoutklutzylackadaisicallaxestloose-fitting
disreputabledowdydown at the heeldrabbletaileddraggleddraggletaileddroopingdrunkeasyeasygoingeffusivefecalfeculentfetidfilthyfingers all thumbsflappingflyblownfoulfrowzy
Show 53 more words
frumpishfrumpyfumblingfustygauchegawkishgawkygloppygooeygracelessgrubbygrungygunkygushinggushyhalf assedhalf-assedham-fistedham-handedhanginghaphazardheavy handedheavy-handedhit-and-misshit-or-misshulkinghulkyhydratedhydraulichydrousickyimpotentimprecisein ragsindifferentinebriatedinelegantinformalintoxicatedlaxleft handedleft-handleft-handedlenientliquidlooseloutishlubberlylumberinglumpenlumpishmaggotymaladroit
Noun(2 words)
fudgingless thorough
Verb(1 words)
hinder understanding
Related words (160)
malodorousmaudlinmawkishmediocremephiticmessymirymuckymuddledmuddymushymussynamby pambynamby-pambynastynauseatingnegligentnostalgicnostomanicoafish
Show 104 more words
odiousoozyordurousoverindulgentoverpermissiveoversentimentaloversentimentalizedpermissivepixilatedplashyplasteredpokyponderouspoorpromiscuouspukyputridraggedraggedyrainyrankraunchyrelaxedremissrepulsivericketyromanticrottenruinoussappyscabbyschmaltzyscragglyscruffyscummyscurfyseedysentimentalsentimentalizedshabbyshakyshittyshoddyslabbyslackslapdashslatternlyslimyslipshodslipshoddyslobberingslobberyslobbysloshysloughyslovenlysludgyslushysluttishsoddensoftsoggysoppingsoppysordidsplashysposhysqualidsquashysquelchysquishystickystiffstreamingswashysweettackytatteredtear jerkingtear-jerkingtearyturbiduncombeduncouthunfastidiousungainlyungracefulunhandyunkemptunneatunprofessionalunrestrainedunsightlyunthoroughuntidyunwieldyvilevomitywaterishwateryweakwetwormyyecchy
Adjective(32 words)
marshymediocre workmessymessy curriculamirymuckymuddyneglectfulnegligent taskoveremotionalpoor communicationpoor writingquaggyraggediestshoddyshoddy goodssloppiersloppiestsloughyslovenliest
Show 12 more words
slovenlyslurred speech patternsoggysquashysubstandardswampyunprofessional behaviorunscientificuntidyuntidy curriculumwaterloggedwild throw
Noun(2 words)
most carelessscrawling
Verb(2 words)
neglect health checkslopped
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: slapdash, slipshod, all thumbs, amateurish, aquatic.
- Sentence evidence is available for sloppy, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "sloppy".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "sloppy"
Keep "sloppy" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "sloppy" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "sloppy", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "sloppy" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
3 entriesappearance descriptormanner descriptorquality descriptor
More specific
7 entriescareless mistakeshasty conclusionsinaccurate measurementsincomplete planmessy handwritingslipshod editingslipshod workmanship
Collocations
5 entriessloppy editingsloppy handwritingsloppy notessloppy thinkingsloppy work
Inflections
2 entriesDerivations
2 entriessimilar
5 entriesSample sentences
16 total sentences available.
Whether it's national economics, family economics, or personal economics, it's not something where sloppy accounting is good enough.
Source: tatoeba (327553)
This year's freshly inducted employees are, to a man, lacking in concentration, and their sloppy work leaves me speechless.
Source: tatoeba (471859)
Edit your work better before you submit it, it's sloppy.
Source: tatoeba (868260)
Showing 4 of 16 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "sloppy"?
Closest matches include slapdash, slipshod, all thumbs, amateurish, aquatic.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "sloppy"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.