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Definition of sleaze

sleaze

/sliːz/
sleaze
Adverb:sleazily
•
Plural:sleazes
•
Adjective:sleazy
•
Past Simple:sleazed
•
Past Participle:sleazed
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Present Participle:sleazing
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sleaze Lexical Profile

sleaze Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

Immoral, sordid, or corrupt behavior, especially in politics, business, or entertainment; a state of squalor or disreputability.

Example

"The investigative report exposed decades of financial sleaze within the municipal government."

2

A contemptible, immoral, or disreputable person.

Example

"She refused to do business with him after discovering he was an unscrupulous sleaze."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• verb

1

To behave or move in an unpleasantly smooth, obsequious, or disreputable manner.

Example

"The lobbyist sleazed his way into the private reception to curry favor with the committee members."

Synonyms
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• Rhymes for sleaze

• Nearby Words

slay
slayer
slaying
sleaze
sleazebag
sleazeball
sleazily

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the mid-20th century as a back-formation from the adjective 'sleazy', which originally described thin, flimsy, or poorly woven cloth in the 17th century.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Sleaze. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/sleaze
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