Dictionary › S › shoddy

shoddy

2 syllables · also shoddier, shoddiest
adjectivenoun
Quick answer

As an adjective, shoddy means of poor quality or construction. As a noun, it means a low-grade cloth made from by-products of wool processing, or from recycled wool.

Meanings of shoddy

9 meanings

adjective

  1. Of poor quality or construction

    “Do not settle for shoddy knives if you are serious about cooking.”

  2. Made of inferior workmanship and materials

    “cheapjack moviemaking … that feeds on the low taste of the mob”

    Similar: cheapjack, tawdry

  3. Unethical or dishonest

    “dirty police officers”

    “a sordid political campaign”

    “shoddy business practices”

    Similar: dirty, sordid
Older and rare meanings (2)

  1. datedPretentious, sham, counterfeit

  2. datedAmbitious by reason of newly-acquired wealth; nouveau riche

noun

  1. A low-grade cloth made from by-products of wool processing, or from recycled wool.

  2. Reclaimed wool fiber

Older and rare meanings (2)

  1. datedWorthless goods.

  2. colloquialdatedVulgar pretence or sham.

Meanings from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Open English WordNet (CC BY 4.0).

Synonyms by meaning

adjective: made of inferior workmanship and materials
cheapjacktawdry
adjective: unethical or dishonest
dirtysordid

Words that rhyme with shoddy

bodyembodywadijihadidisembodywaddiewaddy

For word games

s1
h4
o1
d2
d2
y4
Scrabble & Words With Friends: valid word14 points before bonuses.6 letters.
Unscramble these letters

Nearby words

shockableshockedshockershockingshockinglyshodshoeshoe stringshoeboxshoehornshoelaceshoemaker