Definition

Noun: 1. The property of weakness by virtue of careless construction: The state or quality of being poorly, hastily, or carelessly made, resulting in a lack of durability or strength. 2. The quality of being cheaply imitative of something better: The characteristic of being a low-quality, inferior, or unconvincing copy of a superior original.

Usage and Examples

• Referring to physical construction or workmanship:
  • The shoddiness of the furniture was evident; the drawers stuck, and the legs wobbled.
  • Investigators blamed the building's collapse on the shoddiness of its construction.
• Referring to the quality of an imitation or a non-physical concept:
  • The shoddiness of the argument was apparent to everyone in the debate.
  • Critics panned the film for the shoddiness of its plot, which was a poor copy of a classic story.

Advanced Usage

• "betray a shoddiness": To reveal or expose poor quality, often unintentionally.
  • The product's finish betrays a shoddiness not visible in the advertisement.
• "inherent shoddiness": Poor quality that is a fundamental, built-in characteristic.
  • The product was recalled due to its inherent shoddiness.

Variants and Related Words

• Shoddy (adj): Poorly made or done.
  • They used shoddy materials.
• Shoddily (adv): In a poorly made or careless manner.
  • The report was shoddily prepared.

Synonyms

• Inferiority: The state of being lower in quality.
• Flimsiness: Lack of solidity or strength.
• Sleaziness: (Informal) Manifesting low quality or taste.
• Negligence: Failure to take proper care, which can result in shoddiness.

Antonyms

• Solidity: The quality of being firm, stable, and well-made.
• Superiority: The state of being higher in quality.
• Excellence: The quality of being outstanding or extremely good.
• Craftsmanship: Skill in a particular craft, implying high quality.

Noun

1. the property of weakness by virtue of careless construction
2. the quality of being cheaply imitative of something better