Definition

Noun: 1. The state or quality of being sleazy; shabbiness, dirtiness, or poor quality. This refers to a lack of elegance or respectability, often due to being worn-out, dirty, or cheaply made. 2. Moral dishonor or sordidness. This refers to behavior, character, or environments that are morally low, corrupt, or sexually disreputable.

Usage Examples

• Referring to physical shabbiness:
  • The sleaziness of the old motel's decor was immediately apparent.
  • He was shocked by the general sleaziness of the neighborhood.
• Referring to moral dishonor:
  • The journalist exposed the sleaziness of the political lobbyists.
  • The film portrays the sleaziness of the tabloid news industry.

Advanced Usage

• "an air of sleaziness": A noticeable atmosphere or impression of being sleazy.
  • The whole operation had an air of sleaziness that made investors wary.
• "to descend into sleaziness": To decline or degrade into a state of being sleazy.
  • The debate quickly descended into sleaziness with personal attacks.

Variants and Related Words

• Sleazy (adjective): The root adjective.
  • a sleazy nightclub (shabby/disreputable)
  • sleazy behavior (morally dishonorable)
• Sleazebag / Sleazeball (noun, informal): A person considered to be sleazy.

Synonyms

• Shabbiness: Worn-out and poor condition.
• Sordidness: Involving immoral or dishonorable actions and motives.
• Seediness: Having a dirty, poor, or immoral quality.
• Disreputability: The state of not being respected or trusted.
• Tawdriness: Showy but cheap and of poor quality.

Antonyms

• Decency
• Respectability
• Elegance
• Probity (formal honesty and integrity)

Noun

1. a lack of elegance as a consequence of wearing threadbare or dirty clothing
2. morally dishonorable
   • an embarrassing sleaziness that I hope will be corrected by the more ethical newspapers