shoddy

C2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˈʃɑ.di/ UK /ˈʃɒd.i/ See IPA manual

Freq #24595

Meanings

1

adj
poorly made, carelessly done, or inferior in quality

Inspectors condemned the contractor's shoddy workmanship and ordered the wall rebuilt.
2

adj
disreputable or unfair in conduct or treatment

The tenants complained about the landlord's shoddy treatment of urgent repairs.
3

noun
reclaimed wool fiber made by shredding old or waste woolen cloth

The mill blended shoddy with new wool to produce an inexpensive fabric.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · poorly made, carelessly... inferiorsubstandardslipshodjerry-built

2 adj · disreputable or unfair in... disgraceful disreputable unfair

3 noun · reclaimed wool fiber made... reclaimed woolrecycled wool

More tawdry

Opposites

well-madesuperior first-rate

Word family

Derived forms shoddilyshoddinessshoddyism

Related forms reclaimed woolmungotawdry

Etymology

The noun, recorded in the nineteenth century, names wool recovered by shredding old fabric; its origin is uncertain. The adjective developed from the inferior cloth and became especially associated with cheaply made uniforms during the American Civil War, then broadened to anything badly made or disreputable.

Topics

Describing Qualities

External links

# shoddy

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** adj, noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈʃɑ.di/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈʃɒd.i/
**Frequency rank:** 24595

## Meanings
1. poorly made, carelessly done, or inferior in quality
2. disreputable or unfair in conduct or treatment
3. reclaimed wool fiber made by shredding old or waste woolen cloth

## Examples
- Inspectors condemned the contractor's shoddy workmanship and ordered the wall rebuilt.
- The tenants complained about the landlord's shoddy treatment of urgent repairs.
- The mill blended shoddy with new wool to produce an inexpensive fabric.

## Synonyms
- inferior
- substandard
- slipshod
- jerry-built
- tawdry

## Antonyms
- well-made
- superior
- first-rate

## Derived Forms
- shoddily
- shoddiness
- shoddyism

## Related Forms
- reclaimed wool
- mungo
- tawdry

## Etymology
The noun, recorded in the nineteenth century, names wool recovered by shredding old fabric; its origin is uncertain. The adjective developed from the inferior cloth and became especially associated with cheaply made uniforms during the American Civil War, then broadened to anything badly made or disreputable.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities

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