sketchy

adjective

ˈske-chē

sketchier; sketchiest

Synonyms of sketchy next

: of the nature of a sketch : roughly outlined

: wanting in completeness, clearness, or substance : slight, superficial

the details are sketchy

: questionable, iffy

got into a sketchy situation

a sketchy character

sketchily

ˈske-chə-lē

adverb

sketchiness

ˈske-chē-nəs

noun

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The Varied Meanings of Sketchy

A sketch is a rough drawing usually done as an initial draft in contrast to a finished work. The word sketch suggests imperfection and a lack of refinement. It comes from the Dutch word schets and ultimately from the Italian verb schizzare, an imitative verb meaning "to splash."

Unsurprisingly, the adjective sketchy originally described something relating to or resembling a sketch, as in "a sketchy portrait." But because sketches are by nature rough and ill-defined, sketchy soon came to mean "wanting in completeness, clearness, or substance," as in "a sketchy understanding" or "sketchy details."

What lacks completeness, clearness, or substance is also subject to doubt or challenge, and sketchy went on to develop uses applying to what is questionable or iffy, either for physically obvious qualities or for something less tangible. In sports we see this sense of sketchy applied to a track or surface that is poorly maintained, as in "a sketchy track," and in broader use it is applied to streets and neighborhoods that can also be described as seedy, as in "a sketchy part of town."

The adjective has more recently extended in use to describe someone who creates an impression of unsavoriness, or something that comes from an untrustworthy source or is itself untrustworthy, as in "a sketchy dude" or "a scheme that sounds sketchy."

Examples of sketchy in a Sentence

The details about the accident are still a little sketchy. I have only a sketchy idea of how it works.

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Radio contact between our plane and the airport tower was sketchy, possibly due to weather. —

Jim Clash, Forbes, 6 Nov. 2024 Unfortunately, Lindy’s screenplay struggles to expand the film’s concept beyond its basic, sketchy premise. —

Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 25 Oct. 2024 Keep an eye out for red flags like sensational headlines and sketchy websites. —

Kurt Knutsson, Cyberguy Report, Fox News, 23 Oct. 2024 The Emmy winner joined the NBC sketchy comedy show in 1982 and appeared on three seasons. —

Zack Sharf, Variety, 31 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for sketchy