crappy

American  

[krap-ee] / ˈkræp i /

adjective

Slang: Sometimes Vulgar.

crappier, crappiest

1. extremely bad, unpleasant, or inferior; lousy.

   crappy weather.

2. nasty, humiliating, insulting, or unfair.

   What a crappy thing to say about anyone!

3. cheaply made or done; shoddy.

   a crappy job.

---

Usage

What does crappy mean? Crappy means lousy, unpleasant, nasty, inferior, or poorly made. Crappy is a slang word. It is the adjective form of the noun crap. Because the literal meaning of crap is excrement (poop), it is sometimes considered vulgar. Though crappy rarely refers to excrement, it is still sometimes considered a mild form of profanity (a mild curse word). Crappy is always used negatively to describe unpleasant things (like a bad day) or things that don’t meet expectations or are considered inferior (like a poorly made product).

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• crappiness
  noun

Etymology

Origin of crappy

An Americanism dating back to 1840–50; crap ¹ + -y ¹

Example Sentences

I self-consciously went because their athletics were crappy enough that I could make a team.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 7, 2026

Those avocado green appliances, Formica countertops, and linoleum floors were just as crappy as they appear in those sitcom reruns.

From Barron's • Mar. 14, 2026

So this is weird dicta in a random case that is trying to undo crappy but unfortunately enforceable doctrine.

From Slate • Dec. 30, 2025

Nearly every human who knows about “The Rise and Fall of Sanctuary Moon” dismisses it as crappy, compelling Murderbot to defend this favorite show as “quality premium entertainment.”

From Salon • Jul. 7, 2025

I just knew he’d been fat his whole life, probably crazy too, and that he’d be stuck in some tight, crappy little space for whatever was left of it.

From "Anthem of a Reluctant Prophet" by Joanne Proulx