Word
sleazy
US/ˈsɫizi/
UK/slˈiːzi/
Definition
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.
Examples
“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.”
Examples
simple
“The politician was involved in a sleazy deal.”
contextual
“The reporter refused to enter the sleazy bar, suspecting it was a front for illegal gambling.”
complex
“The documentary exposes the sleazy underbelly of the industry, where exploitation is common and ethical standards are routinely ignored for profit.”
Usage
Often used predicatively after 'feel' or 'seem', and attributively before nouns like 'politician', 'bar', or 'deal'.
Real-World Examples
“It’s a joy, too, to read fiction that understands sex so well, and is neither sentimental nor sleazy.” Etymology
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.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/sleazy