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sleaziness

sleaziness

1 8.1
Being dishonest and unfair in a way that harms others
  • noun
  • /ˈsliːziness/
  • Literature
translation icon : corrupción
  • He couldn't tolerate the sleaziness of the company's practices, so he decided to leave his job.

Examples

  • Not that I personally care about ads, but I do care about what gets advertised and the general sleaziness that seems to accompany the business.

    Blog text (9)
  • It is not surprising that the evident sleaziness of Outremer politics became notorious in Europe.

    Academic text (2011)
  • Maybe he gets off on the sleaziness of it, treating the girl like a whore.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • Some things I noticed: I think Mike and the Bots set a standard for sleaziness in the first couple of minutes of this episode.

    Blog text (23)
  • I know it's wrong, but I think I prefer the stark sleaziness of midtown in that era to the Disney version of today.

    Blog text (14)
  • Or admit to just enough sleaziness so we'll be thought of as complicitous, attractively perverse.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • The sleaziness of the corrupt officials was evident in their dealings with the community.

  • Many people are concerned about the sleaziness of reality television shows that exploit contestants.

Synonyms

dishonesty
vssleaziness
46 3.2

Actions like lying, cheating, or stealing

is wider, implying overall sordid moral dishonour not only acts
corruption
vssleaziness
36 4.6

A situation where people lose moral principles and act badly

focuses more on personal sordidness and dishonour rather than process
wickedness
vssleaziness
28 5.2

A state of being morally wrong or evil

is more about corrupt, dishonourable conduct and sordidness
sleaze
vssleaziness
  • Literature
28 7.9

Bad or dishonest behaviour that seems cheap and shameful

focuses more on moral dishonour and corrupt, sordid conduct
immorality
vssleaziness
23 6.3

Bad behavior that people see as wrong or evil

adds a sense of sordid dishonour and corrupt character to that
impropriety
vssleaziness
  • Formal
16 8.0

Behavior that is not socially acceptable

is more serious, indicating corrupt, dishonourable, and sordid moral state
venality
vssleaziness
  • Formal
3 9.9

To accept bribes and use power for personal gain

is general corruption and moral dishonour beyond bribery alone
deviousness
vssleaziness
2 7.0

Secret actions that are dishonest or unfair to get what you want

is broader, pointing at corrupt and morally sordid character overall
baseness
vssleaziness
  • Formal
1 8.1

Low moral quality that shows shameful behavior

is broader, highlighting corrupt and sordid moral behaviour
foulness
vssleaziness
1 7.9

Very bad and immoral behavior that harms other people

is broader, covering dishonour and sordid corruption not only evil acts
sordidness
vssleaziness
1 8.8

A state of being dirty and morally bad

stresses moral dishonour and corrupt intent rather than physical squalor
filthiness
vssleaziness
1 5.3

A state of being morally bad because of wrong actions

is more about dishonour and corrupt behaviour than impurity image
shadiness
vssleaziness
1 6.9

Dishonest or secret behavior that seems against the law

is wider, stressing moral sordidness beyond just suspicion or illegality
corruptness
vssleaziness
1 6.2

A habit of being dishonest and breaking rules to get money or power

is wider, stressing general moral dishonour and sordidness
nefariousness
vssleaziness
  • Formal
1 9.6

Very evil behaviour that harms other people

covers less intense moral failure and general sordidness
miscreancy
vssleaziness
  • Archaic
1 9.9

Very bad actions that break the law

emphasizes personal dishonour and sordid behaviour rather than crime alone
crookedness
vssleaziness
1 6.9

Dishonest behavior by a person or group

covers general moral dishonour and corrupt or sordid character
crooked dealing
vssleaziness
1 6.3

Dishonest behavior in business or money matters

is more general, covering moral sordidness beyond financial wrongdoing
scumminess
vssleaziness
  • Offensive
8.6

A state of being dirty or bad in a moral way, for example a filthy place

is similar but focuses on general corrupt or sordid character
unscrupulousness
vssleaziness
8.8

A habit of ignoring right and wrong and being dishonest to get what you want

is broader, stressing overall sordid moral dishonour rather than rulelessness
obliquity
vssleaziness
  • Formal
9.9

Behavior that hides the truth to mislead people

is broader, meaning general corrupt and sordid moral lowliness
crookery
vssleaziness
9.5

Actions that cheat people to get their money

is broader, highlighting overall moral dishonour and sordidness
taintedness
vssleaziness
9.1

A state of being dirty, spoiled, or having a damaged reputation

is about private dishonour and sordid moral failings rather than reputation only
seaminess
vssleaziness
9.3

An unpleasant hidden side of a person or place

is similar but stresses active corruptness and dishonour more strongly
disgracefulness
vssleaziness
7.8

The state of deserving public shame because of wrong actions

is about inner moral corruption and sordidness rather than public shame
shamefulness
vssleaziness
6.0

A feeling of embarrassment and being judged by other people

is broader, pointing to corrupt and sordid moral character
disreputability
vssleaziness
9.0

The state of being seen as not respectable or having a bad reputation

is about actual moral dishonour and corrupt, sordid behaviour rather than reputation
dodginess
vssleaziness
  • UK
8.5

Something that seems wrong, unsafe, or not honest

is stronger, focusing on clear moral dishonour and corruptness

Antonyms

honor
  • US
2.2

Respect given to a person for good moral behavior

447 4.3

Being honest and doing what is right

How Immoral

sordidness
1 8.8
corruption
355 4.8
sleaziness
  • Literature
1 8.1
dishonesty
46 3.2
impropriety
  • Formal
16 8.0

Surface Forms

sleaziness singular
sleazinesses plural

Morphology

sleaziness = sleazy (transparent) = sleaze + y + ness

Formed from the adjective 'sleazy' plus the nominalizing suffix '-ness', indicating the state or quality of being sleazy.

Etymology

Sleaziness comes from the words sleaze and sleazy, which describe things that are morally 'dirty' or 'cheap'. So when we call someone's behaviour sleaziness, we mean their corrupt or dishonourable actions, like moral dirt that sticks to them.