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

Free VPNs make sense for several reasons: trying services before buying, getting occasional privacy when you need it, emergency security on sketchy public WiFi, or giving people on tight budgets some basic protection.

From Salon

We fly past yet another highway exit, this one featuring just two gas stations and a sketchy motel.

From Literature

MD: Sometimes it can be sketchy and you feel vulnerable.

From Los Angeles Times

The Smart VPN feature is actually smart, automatically protecting you on sketchy Wi-Fi or when you open certain apps.

From Salon

“I guess that happens with any online thing, but something about sharing personal data with AI feels sketchy. I don’t fully understand what they’re doing with that info.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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