Definition

Something that is of poor quality or made with inferior materials, often appearing cheap or poorly made.

Example

The furniture they sold was shoddy and fell apart after a few weeks.

Conversation

Did you see that new store that opened downtown?

Yeah, I checked it out, but the quality of their products seemed really shoddy.

I thought so too; it felt like everything was made from cheap materials.

Exactly! I wouldn't buy anything from there.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Definition

Something that is of poor quality or made in a careless way.

Example

The furniture they sold was made of shoddy materials and fell apart quickly.

Conversation

Did you see that jacket he was wearing?

Yeah, it looked really shoddy and cheap.

I can't believe he thought it looked good!

Root Explanation

Shoddy originates from the Old English word 'shoddy', which referred to a type of inferior wool or cloth made from recycled fibers. The term has come to describe anything of poor quality or inferior craftsmanship.

Memory Tip

Think of 'shoddy' as a reminder of low-quality wool or cloth, helping you remember that it refers to something that is poorly made or inferior.

Visually Confused Words