sketchy

American  

[skech-ee] / ˈskɛtʃ i /

adjective

sketchier, comparative sketchiest superlative

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

Derived Forms

• sketchiness
  noun
• sketchily
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Adjectives

• sketchier
  comparative
• sketchiest
  superlative

Etymology

Origin of sketchy

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

Explanation

Something sketchy is incomplete: it includes the major points but lacks detail. If a political candidate avoids going into detail about her political views, you might say her platform is sketchy. A sketch is a quick drawing that doesn't have a lot of detail. That definition should help you remember that sketchy things are incomplete. A sketchy speech from the President will outline some important ideas but be short on specifics. A sketchy plan for the weekend would be "Let's go out to eat." That's sketchy because it has the general idea but no specifics, such as the time or place.

Example Sentences

“People will be like, ‘I don’t go to downtown anymore, it’s so sketchy now, my car got broken into last time and I feel weird letting a girl walk to a car by herself.’

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 8, 2026

In comments on the Times article, some Platner supporters declared that his sketchy past, including the Fifield allegations, makes him seem more like a man of the people.

From Slate • Jun. 5, 2026

If your sketchy adviser suggested paying the tax for the conversion out of the $1 million itself, I’d raise another red flag.

From MarketWatch • May 26, 2026

The two sides are currently negotiating the final text of a broader bilateral deal, but further details of the negotiations remain sketchy.

From BBC • May 23, 2026

His first drafts were always sketchy and abrupt like e-mail— and he resisted my editing suggestions—but he did listen when I badgered him to take more time, consider more carefully what he wanted to say.

From "Geeks: How Two Lost Boys Rode the Internet Out of Idaho" by Jon Katz

Related Words

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