sleaze

[ sleez ]

noun

, Slang.

1. a contemptible or vulgar person.
2. a shabby or slovenly person.
3. a sleazy quality, character, or atmosphere; shoddiness; vulgarity.
4. sleazy behavior, content, appearance, or the like.

sleaze

/ sliːz /

noun

1. sleaziness
2. dishonest, disreputable, or immoral behaviour, especially of public officials or employees

   political sleaze

Word History and Origins

Origin of sleaze¹

First recorded in 1950–55; back formation from sleazy

Example Sentences

This poses a major problem for anti-corruption efforts, which too often shine light on sleaze and assume that voters will take it from there.

From Washington Post

Yet for a vivid decade or so, sleaze was, somewhat paradoxically, a force for literacy and empowerment.

From The Daily Beast

For most voters, internal party cohesion hardly seemed to be the most pressing issue amid a slew of sleaze allegations.

From The Daily Beast

The point is that sexual sleaze is more repellent when everyone can see it up close.

From The Daily Beast

But in the course of the campaign, Olmert the idealist would not be able to free himself from Olmert the sleaze.

From The Daily Beast

God knows a sleaze-addicted media and public had to wait long enough.

From The Daily Beast

Related Words

• four-letter word
• indecency
• pornography
• profanity
• smut
• vulgarity