Shoddily Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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shoddily

[ˈʃɒd.ɪ.li ]

Definition

Context #1 | Adverb

in a careless or unskilled manner

Done poorly or sloppily; showing a lack of care or attention to detail.

Synonyms

carelessly, hastily, sloppily.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
shoddily

When something is done in a way that shows poor quality or lack of care, often implying that it was done cheaply or as a shortcut.

  • The building was constructed shoddily, with low-quality materials.
  • The shoes fell apart within a week because they were shoddily made.
carelessly

When something is done without paying attention to details or without careful consideration, often resulting in mistakes or accidents.

  • She carelessly left the door unlocked.
  • The vase was broken because it was carelessly placed on the edge of the table.
sloppily

When something is done in a messy, untidy, or disorganized manner, often implying a lack of effort or attention to detail.

  • His homework was done sloppily, with lots of spelling mistakes.
  • The kitchen was cleaned so sloppily that it was still dirty.
hastily

When something is done very quickly without giving much thought or taking the necessary time.

  • He hastily packed his bag and ran out of the room.
  • The report was hastily written and full of errors.

Examples of usage

  • He painted the fence shoddily, leaving streaks of paint on the grass.
  • The report was written shoddily, with numerous spelling errors and typos.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Interesting Facts

Cultural References

  • In literature, products described as 'shoddy' often reflect moral decay or lack of integrity.
  • Film and theater have used 'shoddily' to describe sets or performances that lack effort, enhancing the theme of authenticity versus deception.
  • In music, artists sometimes critique society's shoddy tendencies in their lyrics, urging for higher standards.

Psychology

  • Research shows that human perceptions of quality can change based on previous experiences with poor products.
  • People often feel frustrated when they encounter 'shoddy' work, which can lead to feelings of distrust towards the source.
  • Cognitive bias may cause individuals to overlook quality mistakes if they have an emotional attachment to the creator.

Economics

  • Low-quality goods can harm economic growth by reducing consumer trust and satisfaction.
  • The concept of planned obsolescence relates to shoddy practices, where products are intentionally made to fail so consumers must buy more.
  • Countries that prioritize quality control tend to have stronger economies compared to those selling 'shoddy' goods.

Education

  • Teaching about the characteristics of quality work often emphasizes the dangers of 'shoddy' production in both experiences and outcomes.
  • Students can learn the value of diligence and attention to detail by contrasting poor projects with high-quality ones.
  • Research skills include identifying unreliable sources, which can sometimes be 'shoddy' in their information delivery.

Origin of 'shoddily'

Main points about word origin

  • The term 'shoddy' originally referred to recycled wool cloth, which was of low quality.
  • It emerged in the early 19th century during the Industrial Revolution when low-quality products flooded the market.
  • The expression evolved into different contexts, describing anything that is poorly made or of inferior quality.

The word 'shoddily' originated from the term 'shoddy' which means something of poor quality or inferior workmanship. The adverb 'shoddily' is used to describe actions or work that is done in a careless or unskilled manner, lacking attention to detail or quality.


Word Frequency Rank

At position #41,068, this word is among the less frequently used terms in English. While interesting to know, it's not crucial for most English learners unless needed for specific purposes.