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Synonyms

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.
sketchy British  
/ ˈskɛtʃɪ /

adjective

  1. characteristic of a sketch; existing only in outline

  2. superficial or slight

  3. informal uncertain or unreliable

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • sketchily adverb
  • sketchiness noun

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.

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The 22-year-old American served six double faults and was broken five times in a sketchy display, but she had enough to win through and set up a match against Amanda Anisimova or Belinda Bencic.

From BBC • Mar. 23, 2026

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 • Feb. 12, 2026

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

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 11, 2026

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

From Barron's • Jan. 2, 2026

There had been some encounter at a bar, but the details were sketchy.

From "Me Talk Pretty One Day" by David Sedaris

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.