seedy

adjective

ˈsē-dē How to pronounce seedy (audio)
Definition of seedynext
1
as in dilapidated
showing signs of advanced wear and tear and neglect a seedy but historic neighborhood that's just waiting for some new homeowners to come in and rehabilitate it

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in tattered
worn or torn into or as if into rags chose old, seedy clothes to wear while painting the bathroom

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of seedy In Gosha’s case, that involves getting mixed up with gangsters at a seedy nightclub, a sequence that quickly deteriorates from being mildly comical to sinister to outright terrifying by even degrees. — Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 14 July 2026 An important entry to the New Queer Cinema canon, Kar-wai’s drama is passionate, moody, and deeply evocative, tracing the jagged edges of an on-again, off-again romance in seedy 1990s Buenos Aires. — Liam Hess, Vogue, 28 June 2026 Sometimes, the streets appear glittering; other times, seedy and dangerous. — Los Angeles Times, 22 June 2026 One recent afternoon, the Irish actor Aidan Turner, who plays the seedy playboy the Vicomte de Valmont in a new production of the show at the National Theatre, settled into an armchair in the hotel’s lounge. — Anna Russell, New Yorker, 1 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for seedy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for seedy
  1. dilapidated
  2. tattered
  3. neglected
  4. ragged
  5. faded
Adjective
  • Instead, city staff could first more narrowly issue an order to repair a dilapidated historic building and then expedite approval for those repairs on the back end, without needing a hearing through the Historic Preservation Commission.
    — Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 1 Aug. 2026
  • The zoo, which houses more than 1,600 animals, has become dilapidated over the years.
    — Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 31 July 2026
Definition of dilapidated
Adjective
  • The ferocious character also features shaggy black-and-orange hair that matches his tattered pants, and a large necklace adorned with teeth.
    — Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 30 July 2026
  • The trailer finds the film’s protagonists alternately hunting or fleeing the vicious creature — or creatures — through a tattered town known as Hope Harbor, a remote coastal village near the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) in South Korea.
    — Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 9 July 2026
Definition of tattered
Adjective
  • Investors and analysts are increasingly looking to other parts of the market, both to find neglected sources of value and to start assuming a defensive posture against a possible downturn.
    — Tobias Burns, CNBC, 16 July 2026
  • Changing their environment is more reliable and more neglected.
    — Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026
Definition of neglected
Adjective
  • Typically depicted with exaggerated features and ragged clothing – or no clothing at all – these children were often shown being chased by alligators or other wild animals.
    — The Conversation, The Conversation, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Sharpen Mower Blades Dull blades create a ragged leaf edge, which is the ideal entry point for diseases.
    — Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of ragged
Adjective
  • Meanwhile, the Remarkably Bright Creatures star, 33, embraced a warmer approach, with off-white jeans and a faded blue shirt under a dark blue chore jacket.
    — Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Inside the homes, sunlight falls on faded posters, worn furniture, and an old radio by a window.
    — Ana Karina Zatarain, New Yorker, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of faded

Browse Nearby Words

seeds
seedy
see eye to eye
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Seedy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/seedy. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on seedy

Nglish: Translation of seedy for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of rigmarole

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

How to Pronounce the Trickiest Menu Items

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Aug. 21

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
alt-684346df967d5
Add A Letter Quiz Pick the letter that goes in the same spot in fou...
See All