sketchy

American  

[skech-ee] / ˈskɛtʃ i /

adjective

sketchier, sketchiest

1. like a sketch; giving only outlines or essentials.

   Synonyms:

   crude, meager, rough, cursory

2. imperfect, incomplete, slight, or superficial.

   a sketchy meal.

3. Informal.

   1. unreliable or unsafe.

      That street looks pretty sketchy.

   2. disreputable or shady.

      I'd stay away from him; he's got a sketchy past.

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sketchy British  

/ ˈskɛtʃɪ /

adjective

1. characteristic of a sketch; existing only in outline

2. superficial or slight

3. informal uncertain or unreliable

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Other Word Forms

• sketchily adverb
• sketchiness noun

Etymology

Origin of sketchy

First recorded in 1795–1805; sketch + -y ¹

Example Sentences

If companies’ reports were sketchy or unreliable, shareholders would likely demand an inside role and ongoing access to confidential information.

From Barron's

Since then the rumor mill has exploded with believable, sketchy and contradicting explanations of what happened.

From The Wall Street Journal

Mr. Anders’s characters never really transcend their sketchy outlines, leaving us at times a bit bored and at others confused, as a certain pity sets in for the talented performers in these parts.

From The Wall Street Journal

“Things are a little sketchy, economically, so I definitely think people will turn to secondhand.”

From MarketWatch

“As athletes, we know if something is sketchy or not,” Gkolomeev says.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• cursory
• faulty
• inadequate
• insufficient
• perfunctory
• preliminary
• skimpy
• superficial
• vague