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Sketchy: meaning, definitions and examples

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sketchy

 

[ ˈskɛtʃi ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

in a suspicious manner

Not to be trusted; untrustworthy or shady. Something that seems unreliable, risky, or dubious.

Synonyms

dubious, shady, suspicious, unreliable

Examples of usage

  • The man gave me a sketchy explanation for his whereabouts last night.
  • I don't feel comfortable going to that sketchy part of town alone at night.
Context #2 | Adjective

incomplete or rough

Roughly outlined or unfinished. Lacking detail or precision. Often used in reference to a preliminary or temporary version of something.

Synonyms

incomplete, preliminary, rough, unfinished

Examples of usage

  • She showed me a sketchy draft of her new novel.
  • The plan is still in a sketchy stage and needs more development.

Translations

Translations of the word "sketchy" in other languages:

🇵🇹 esboçado

🇮🇳 अस्पष्ट

🇩🇪 skizzenhaft

🇮🇩 kasar

🇺🇦 ескізний

🇵🇱 szkicowy

🇯🇵 大ざっぱな

🇫🇷 ébauché

🇪🇸 esquemático

🇹🇷 eskiz

🇰🇷 대충 그린

🇸🇦 غير واضح

🇨🇿 náčrtný

🇸🇰 náčrtkový

🇨🇳 草图的

🇸🇮 osnutkovit

🇮🇸 óviss

🇰🇿 эскиздік

🇬🇪 ესკიზური

🇦🇿 eskizli

🇲🇽 esquemático

Etymology

The origin of the word 'sketchy' can be traced back to the early 19th century, derived from the word 'sketch' which originally meant a rough drawing or outline. Over time, 'sketchy' evolved to describe something that is not fully developed or trustworthy. The term has since become commonly used in informal language to convey a sense of suspicion or incompleteness.

See also: sketch, sketcher, sketches, sketching.

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #20,759, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.