sleazy — morally degraded, corrupt, or disreputable; squalid and seedy
Part of speech: ADJECTIVE
Definition: morally degraded, corrupt, or disreputable; squalid and seedy
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈsliːzi/
Example Sentences
- He felt uncomfortable in the sleazy nightclub with its dim lighting and questionable clientele.
- The sleazy used car salesman tried to sell me a car with square wheels.
- She refused to work for the sleazy tabloid that specialized in celebrity scandals.
sleazy
ADJECTIVE[/ˈsliːzi/]
morally degraded, corrupt, or disreputable; squalid and seedy
The sleazy salesman in a flashy suit tries to push a broken-down car on a young couple.
The sleazy salesman used a cheap trick to make the customer pay more than expected. (SLEAZY → SLY + EASY → A sly person takes the easy, shady way to get what they want.)
The sleazy club had a cheesy atmosphere that made the visitors feel queasy.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The word originates from Silesia, a historical region in Central Europe known for producing low-quality silk and linen. Initially used as a textile term to describe thin, inferior silk fabrics, the word gradually extended its meaning from physical degradation to moral or ethical corruption.
Breakdown
Silesia (region famous for poor-quality textiles) → inferior fabric quality → morally corrupt or disreputable. The semantic shift moved from concrete textile defect to abstract moral failing.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“He felt uncomfortable in the sleazy nightclub with its dim lighting and questionable clientele.”
“The sleazy used car salesman tried to sell me a car with square wheels.”
“She refused to work for the sleazy tabloid that specialized in celebrity scandals.”
“The sleazy lawyer's office was so dirty that even the cockroaches wore masks.”
📚Related Words
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