checkered

[chek-erd]

adjective

1. marked by numerous and various shifts or changes; variegated.

   a checkered career.

   Synonyms: seesaw, irregular, uneven, varied

2. marked by dubious episodes; suspect in character or quality.

   a checkered past.

3. marked with squares.

   a checkered fabric.

4. diversified in color; alternately light and shadowed.

   the checkered shade beneath trees.

Other Word Forms

• uncheckered adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of checkered¹

1350–1400; Middle English. See checker ¹, -ed ²

Example Sentences

He was a small, wiry fellow in a long checkered coat.

Read more on Literature

The CIA has a long and checkered history in the region over many years, but I don’t think any president has been dim enough to announce it in advance.

Read more on Salon

California, biomass energy advocates say, has struggled to get past its distrust of the technology, given traditional biomass’ checkered past of clear-cutting forests and polluting poorer communities.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

In October, however, no one’s history has been more checkered.

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Brown made sure to conceal his checkered past from potential business partners.

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