sleaze
verbEtymology Back-formation from sleazy, originally used to describe the thinness and low quality of cloth.
1
To act or progress in a sleazy manner.
- He sleazed his way over to the women at the bar.
2
To slander.
sleaze
noun/sliːz/
Etymology Back-formation from sleazy, originally used to describe the thinness and low quality of cloth.
1
Low moral standards.
- The level of sleaze in this city seems to have been rising rapidly in recent years.1988 January 11, The New Yorker:
- ministerial sleaze and mendacity2004 August 19, London Review of Books:
- While no-one accused Major of corruption, it rebounded to his disadvantage because he was unable to stamp it out, and contradictory reports appeared in the Press as to whether senior Conservatives really supported those accused of sleaze, or whether they were furious and wanted them to stand down immediately.2012, Helen Jones, Susanne MacGregor, Social Issues and Party Politics, page 3:
1 more example
- Reform UK leader Nigel Farage is facing an investigation by the Commons sleaze watchdog over a £5m (€5.7m) gift from a party donor.2026 May 13, David Hughes, “Nigel Farage faces probe by sleaze watchdog over £5m gift”, in Irish Examiner:
3
Informal A person of low moral standards.
- She knew that sleaze Hakido would do something to stick the knife in and twist it to the hilt.1999, E. Brewer, Picking Up the Marbles, AuthorHouse, →ISBN, page 162:
4
Informal A man who is sexually aggressive or forward with women to the point of causing disgust.
- 1989, Weekly World News, "My hubby robbed the cradle and left me with the baby", 7 November, p. 42. I'll bet you dollars to doughnuts that sleaze slept with your boss and I wouldn't take it lying down.
- Mother, he's such a sleaze! The way he looked at you!1996, S. Hoskinson Frommer, Buried in Quilts, Harlequin, →ISBN, page 64:
5
Informal Sleazy material or publications.
- a tabloid newspaper full of sleaze
- Derived terms
- mainsleaze, sleazebag, sleazeball, sleazebucket, sleazecore, sleaze factor, sleazehole, sleaze-merchant, sleazemonger, sleaze-ridden, sleazewad, sleazo, sleazoid, sleazy