sleazy
adj.adj. describing a person or place that feels dishonest, dirty, or immoral. You use this when something feels cheap and untrustworthy.
adj. characterised by a corrupt, immoral, or sordid quality. Often describes individuals or environments that lack integrity or cleanliness, particularly in a sexual or financial context.
The politician was involved in a sleazy deal.
The reporter refused to enter the sleazy bar, suspecting it was a front for illegal gambling.
The documentary exposes the sleazy underbelly of the industry, where exploitation is common and ethical standards are routinely ignored for profit.
Origin obscure. Possibly a corruption of Silesia, through a word meaning Silesian cloth. Silesia was formerly the most important location of Germany’s weaving industry.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Often used predicatively after 'feel' or 'seem', and attributively before nouns like 'politician', 'bar', or 'deal'.
Last updated May 11, 2026