sketchy

sketchy

English

Etymology

sketch +‎ -y

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈskɛtʃi/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɛtʃi

Adjective

sketchy (comparative sketchier, superlative sketchiest)

1. Roughly or hastily laid out; intended for later refinement.

   The first draft included a sketchy design.

2. Resembling a comedy sketch, of sketch quality.
3. (Canada, US, slang) Of questionable or doubtful quality.

   The sketchy repair job did not look like it would hold.

4. (Canada, US, slang, of a person) Suspected of taking part in illicit or dishonorable dealings.

   Because he is so sketchy, I always think that he is up to something.

5. (Canada, US, slang, of a person) Disturbing or unnerving, often in such a way that others may suspect them of intending physical or sexual harm or harassment.

   Jack is so sketchy. I think he's stalking me.

Synonyms

The terms below need to be checked and allocated to the definitions (senses) of the headword above. Each term should appear in the sense for which it is appropriate. Use the templates {{syn|en|...}} or {{ant|en|...}} to add them to the appropriate sense(s).

• dicey
• dodgy
• seedy
• shady

Related terms

▼ <a class='CategoryTreeLabel CategoryTreeLabelNs14 CategoryTreeLabelCategory' href='/wiki/Category:English_terms_derived_from_the_PIE_root_*se%C7%B5%CA%B0-' title='Category:English terms derived from the PIE root *seǵʰ-'>English terms derived from the PIE root *seǵʰ-</a>‎ (0 c, 3 e)

  <a class='CategoryTreeLabel CategoryTreeLabelNs0 CategoryTreeLabelPage' href='/wiki/hector' title='hector'>hector</a>

  <a class='CategoryTreeLabel CategoryTreeLabelNs0 CategoryTreeLabelPage' href='/wiki/sketch' title='sketch'>sketch</a>

  <a class='CategoryTreeLabel CategoryTreeLabelNs0 CategoryTreeLabelPage' href='/wiki/sketchy' title='sketchy'>sketchy</a>

Translations

Roughly or hastily laid out; intended for later refinement

Finnish: summittainen (fi), luonnosmainen French: sommaire (fr), incomplet (fr), partiel (fr), superficiel (fr) German: skizzenhaft Italian: abbozzato (it), delineato (it), schizzato (it), sommario (it)

Norwegian: Bokmål: skisseaktig Nynorsk: skisseaktig Swedish: skissartad, hastig (sv)

Of questionable or doubtful quality

Finnish: huonomaineinen, huonokuntoinen (fi) French: louche (fr), glauque (fr) Norwegian: tvilsom

Russian: сомни́тельный (ru) (somnítelʹnyj) Swedish: tveksam (sv), tvivelaktig (sv), dubiös (sv)

Suspected of taking part in illicit or dishonorable dealings

Finnish: epäilyttävä (fi) Portuguese: escuso (pt), suspeito (pt)

Russian: подозри́тельный (ru) m (podozrítelʹnyj) Swedish: skum (sv), suspekt (sv)

See also

• skeezy