English Reference

Word

sweaty

US/ˈswɛti/

UK/swˈɛti/

Definitions

01covered in sweat

B1

adj. covered or wet with sweat from heat or exercise.

adj. covered, moistened, or stained with perspiration.

“He felt hot and sweaty after running for the bus in the midday sun.”

“After ninety minutes of intense physical exertion on the pitch, the players emerged from the tunnel looking exhausted and sweaty.”

Synonyms

perspiringclammydamp

Antonyms

dry

02causing sweat

B2

adj. describing a place or activity that makes you sweat.

adj. conducive to or causing perspiration, often due to high humidity or physical intensity.

“It was a sweaty afternoon in the crowded gym with no air conditioning.”

“The tropical climate made for a sweaty commute, as the moisture in the air prevented any natural cooling.”

03trying too hard to win

C1 · Sport

adj. used to describe a player who is too serious or obsessed with winning a game.

adj. describing a player or a match characterised by excessive effort and a hyper-competitive attitude, often at the expense of fun.

“I stopped playing that game because the lobbies became too sweaty.”

“The community complained that the matchmaking system was placing casual players into sweaty lobbies filled with professionals.”

Slang · Informal

Usage

Often used as a pejorative in online gaming communities.

Teaching tip

This is a modern slang term; learners should use it only in informal contexts like gaming or sports.

Synonyms

try-hardcompetitive

Antonyms

04sportswear

B1

n. comfortable clothes used for exercise, like a sweatshirt or sweatpants.

n. informal clothing designed for exercise or lounging, typically made of heavy cotton jersey.

“She changed into her sweaties as soon as she got home from work.”

“The trend of wearing sweaties in public has become increasingly acceptable in many urban professional environments.”

Informal

Usage

Usually used in the plural form 'sweaties'.

Synonyms

tracksuitloungewear

Etymology

From Middle English swety, equivalent to sweat + -y.

Influenced by the similarity of the spelling of sweety, and the humorous contrast between their meanings.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Word family

This entry

Level
B1 · Intermediate
Frequency
Frequent
Updated

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