lousy

[lou-zee]

adjective

lousier, lousiest 

1. infested with lice.

2. Informal.

   1. mean or contemptible.

      That was a lousy thing to do.

   2. wretchedly bad; miserable.

      a lousy job; I feel lousy.

lousy

/ ˈlaʊzɪ /

adjective

1. slang,  very mean or unpleasant

   a lousy thing to do

2. slang,  inferior or bad

   this is a lousy film

3. infested with lice

4. slang,  (foll by with)

   1. provided with an excessive amount (of)

      he's lousy with money

   2. full of or teeming with

Other Word Forms

• lousily adverb
• lousiness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of lousy¹

First recorded in 1350–1400, lousy is from the Middle English word lousi. See louse, -y ¹

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. lousy with, well supplied with or filled with, often to excess.

   Our city is lousy with bad drivers.

   I wish I were lousy with money like my boss.

Example Sentences

The weather’s getting lousy and the kids need something to watch, so…why not?

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I’m a lousy sleeper and had a tight deadline looming at the end of the ride.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

McFadden thought "lousy defending" and "a nervousness" from their previous recent meetings with Greece contributed to Saturday's eventful defeat.

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Ticket sales are down because of the lousy product on the field.

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Privately, he seethed at what he saw as lousy advice from the CIA and military leaders.

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Related Words

• awful 
• horrible 
• miserable 
• poor 
• rotten 
• second-rate 
• shoddy 
• terrible