sleaze

noun

ˈslēz How to pronounce sleaze (audio)
Definition of sleazenext
1
as in pervert
a person of low moral character some sleaze will try to make a buck off of this tragedy

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2
as in bastard
a person whose behavior is offensive to others a real sleaze who is constantly mooching off friends, and friends of friends

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in cheese
that which is of low quality or worth the TV networks wouldn't be airing such sleaze if the public wasn't watching it

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of sleaze In the last few years, a slew of secondhand trends have come and gone, from the Y2K renaissance, to an Indie sleaze’s revival (which never quite took off), to the recent burst of 1990s minimalism à la Calvin Klein and Prada. — Alexandra Hildreth, Vogue, 30 July 2026 In the first half of the album, Dean explores unstable characters—bearing some resemblance, perhaps, to their indie-sleaze peers—with both second-hand embarrassment and fascination. — Cassidy Sollazzo, Pitchfork, 13 July 2026 Rodrigo’s other beloved trends, like vintage mod and indie sleaze, are also on the rise on the site. — Chelsey Sanchez, CNN Money, 25 June 2026 Like it or not, the mess of indie sleaze is back. — Madeline Hirsch, InStyle, 3 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for sleaze
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sleaze
  1. pervert
  2. jerk
  3. cheese
  4. creep
  5. clown
  6. junk
  7. slimeball
  8. dog
Noun
  • Hansen, who left NBC in 2013 but remains a leader in the pervert-ambushing space, has spoken about having considered a sting operation against Jeffrey Epstein in 2015.
    — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 25 Sep. 2026
  • This blatant fealty over objectivity perverts the process by choosing personal loyalists instead of independent public servants.
    — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of pervert
Noun
  • Bella’s childhood friend Angus (Jake Simmance), a corporate jerk, condescendingly probes Johnny about his career.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2026
  • There was significant excitement over the first-look footage revealing perhaps the world’s biggest movie star transforming himself to become a portly, gray-haired jerk in an offbeat feature focusing on climate change.
    — Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of jerk
Noun
  • Food and drink Breakfast includes local yogurts and cheeses, cakes still warm from the oven, fresh fruit, and trays of sticky honeycomb—plus velvety cappuccinos and rocket fuel espressos.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Pumpkin Black Bean Enchiladas A quick trip under the broiler is enough to melt and brown the cheese on top of these weeknight-friendly enchiladas—no lengthy bake required.
    — Jesse Szewczyk, Bon Appetit Magazine, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of cheese
Noun
  • Lifestyle creep Another factor for high earners is lifestyle creep—the notion that increasingly luxurious household and discretionary spending quickly becomes perceived as a necessity as their income grows.
    — Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Treasury yields are at their highest since 2007, and as oil creeps higher on the Iran standoff, investors find themselves in yet another guessing game.
    — Anniek Bao, CNBC, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of creep
Noun
  • The brand featured a thematic clown mascot and the beloved product was sold in famously reusable glassware.
    — Joey Skladany, Southern Living, 28 Sep. 2026
  • What followed were Zoom-inclusive mediation meetings, the revelation of tens of thousands of dollars of debt, and something about clown school.
    — Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of clown
Noun
  • Based on statistical models, the agency estimates there are millions more smaller pieces of space junk circling Earth’s orbit.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 5 Oct. 2026
  • This feature is a step down from the Optimizer seen in past years, which also managed free memory, background apps, and other categories of junk files.
    — Neil J. Rubenking, PC Magazine, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of junk
Noun
  • Democrats want this slimeball as their 2028 presidential nominee.
    — Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 19 May 2026
  • After spending a decade and a half in the brains of a meth kingpin and a slimeball attorney, Gilligan wanted his next protagonist to be a force for good.
    — Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 7 Nov. 2025
Definition of slimeball
Noun
  • Sheriff’s cadaver dogs, deputies with shovels and a backhoe were seen at work.
    — Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Lead and cadmium exposure has been linked to canine cancer, a leading cause of death in dogs.
    — Sandee LaMotte, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of dog

Browse Nearby Words

slays
sleaze
sleazebag
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sleaze.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sleaze. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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