weedy

American  

[wee-dee] / ˈwi di /

adjective

weedier, weediest

1. full of or abounding in weeds.

2. consisting of or pertaining to weeds.

3. (of a plant, flower, etc.) growing poorly or in a straggling manner.

4. (of a person or animal) scrawny or ungainly.

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weedy British  

/ ˈwiːdɪ /

adjective

1. full of or containing weeds

   weedy land

2. (of a plant) resembling a weed in rapid or straggling growth

3. informal thin or weakly in appearance

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Other Word Forms

• weedily adverb
• weediness noun

Etymology

Origin of weedy

late Middle English word dating back to 1375–1425; see origin at weed ¹, -y ¹

Example Sentences

Marie Massa has spent more than three years working mostly alone to transform a weedy strip of public land into a fragrant habitat garden in Lincoln Heights.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 15, 2025

On a recent Sunday morning, in the weedy parking lot of a strip mall in Wayne, N.J.,

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 8, 2025

To make weeding easier, scientists suggest bioengineering crops to be colorful or to have differently shaped leaves so that they can be more easily distinguished from their wild and weedy counterparts.

From Science Daily • Apr. 17, 2024

Brown spots, weedy spots, soggy areas and excessive water on the sidewalk or driveway are all signs of an irrigation system that may need attention.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 13, 2024

The ground grew soft, and in places boggy; springs appeared in the banks, and soon they found themselves following a brook that trickled and babbled through a weedy bed.

From "The Fellowship of the Ring" by J.R.R. Tolkien