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sloppily

sloppily

5 2.9
In a careless, untidy way that makes things messy
  • adverb
  • /ˈslɑːpɪli/
translation icon : descuidadamente
  • The room was sloppily organized, with papers scattered across the floor and clothes thrown everywhere.
  • sloppily dressed
  • kissed sloppily
  • sloppily done

Well, no, no, lineages are the rigorous version of what we sloppily call race.

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Examples

  • Spelled out sloppily in red letters was the message, "Congratulations, Tack."

    Fiction book (2000)
  • The young man, Carlos, has his arm sloppily draped across Kit's shoulder.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • So I may have spoken sloppily when I said it, but...

  • So I think that even though they talk sloppily, it is hiding a pretty reasonable thought process underneath.

  • Now he saw that her hair was sloppily braided.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • Whoever the culprits were, they had sloppily left the door open.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • It was a very sloppily done thesis.

  • Uncle Ed was carrying a sloppily wrapped present, which he handed to Terri.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • The embarrassed Klaus kneels and sloppily re-ties his shoe.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • The scone halves to Sarah's left are covered sloppily with grape jam.

    Fiction book (2002)

Synonyms

haphazardly
vssloppily
9 6.1

In a way that is not planned or organized

suggests lack of plan or order rather than specific untidiness or carelessness
messily
vssloppily
1 1.4

In a messy way that leaves food or paint everywhere

is done through carelessness rather than only lack of neatness
shoddily
vssloppily
1 6.0

In a careless way that uses cheap materials or little effort

focuses on poor quality or bad workmanship rather than untidy execution
untidily
vssloppily
1 3.4

In a messy way that is not neat

often involves carelessness or lack of attention beyond just disorder
higgledy-piggledy
vssloppily
  • Informal
1 9.9

In a messy, mixed-up way with things in no order

stresses chaotic arrangement rather than carelessness or untidy action
lackadaisically
vssloppily
1 9.5

In a lazy, careless way with little interest

is more about lazy attitude than physical disorder or untidy results
scruffily
vssloppily
4.1

In a messy, untidy way, especially about clothes or hair

applies to general careless untidiness not limited to how one looks
slouchily
vssloppily
8.0

In a lazy, untidy way with shoulders bent forward

covers careless untidiness in many actions beyond drooping posture
neglectfully
vssloppily
6.3

In a way that shows little care or attention

often produces untidy results rather than only lack of attention
shambolically
vssloppily
  • UK
8.4

In a messy, disorganized way

implies disorder and chaos rather than primarily careless untidiness
higgledy
vssloppily
  • Informal
9.9

In a messy, untidy way

is closer to general mess and disorder than to careless behavior

Antonyms

978 1.0

In a way that shows attention and caution to avoid mistakes or harm

93 1.0

To do something in a tidy and careful way

How Careless

haphazardly
9 6.1
sloppily
5 2.9
messily
1 1.4
carefully
978 1.0

Surface Forms

sloppily positive

Morphology

sloppily = sloppy (transparent) = sloppy + ly

Adverb formed by the regular suffix '-ly' on the adjective 'sloppy', so the meaning is directly predictable.

Etymology

Sloppily comes from sloppy, which comes from slop, a word for a wet, messy liquid or food you might spill, so imagine spilled soup or pig food to remember 'wet' and 'messy'. So, to do something sloppily is to do it 'messily' or 'carelessly'. The ending -ly simply turns this idea into 'in a way'.