sleazeball: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1 - Low to moderate. Common in informal/colloquial contexts, less frequent in formal writing.Informal, derogatory, slang.
Quick answer
What does “sleazeball” mean?
A person who is morally reprehensible, untrustworthy, and engages in low, dishonest, or unethical behaviour.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person who is morally reprehensible, untrustworthy, and engages in low, dishonest, or unethical behaviour.
Often implies a person who is both disreputable and manipulative, particularly in a slimy, underhanded, or sexually predatory way. The term conveys strong moral disgust.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is used in both dialects but originated in and is more prevalent in American English.
Connotations
Identical strong negative connotations in both dialects.
Frequency
More commonly heard and seen in American media and informal speech.
Grammar
How to Use “sleazeball” in a Sentence
be + a sleazeballcall/consider/think + [someone] + a sleazeballVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “sleazeball” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- This word is not used as a verb. The related verb is 'to sleaze' (chiefly UK: 'He sleazed his way into the club.')
American English
- This word is not used as a verb. The related verb is 'to sleaze' (less common in US).
adverb
British English
- The adverb form is 'sleazily' (e.g., He sleazily offered her a deal.).
American English
- The adverb form is 'sleazily' (e.g., The advert was sleazily provocative.).
adjective
British English
- The adjective form is 'sleazy' (e.g., a sleazy nightclub, sleazy behaviour).
American English
- The adjective form is 'sleazy' (e.g., a sleazy lawyer, a sleazy motel).
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used informally to describe unethical colleagues, managers, or competitors known for shady deals.
Academic
Not used in academic writing except perhaps in informal student discourse or sociological studies of slang.
Everyday
Common in informal conversation to express strong disapproval of someone's character, often related to lying, cheating, or sexual misconduct.
Technical
Not applicable.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sleazeball”
- Misspelling as 'sleezeball' or 'sleaseball'. Using it in formal contexts. Using it as an adjective (incorrect: 'He is very sleazeball'; correct: 'He is a sleazeball' or 'His behaviour is sleazy').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is a derogatory slang term and is considered insulting. It should be used with caution, only in informal contexts where strong criticism is intended.
A 'jerk' is generally unpleasant or rude. A 'sleazeball' implies a deeper level of moral corruption, involving dishonesty, exploitation, or underhanded behaviour, often with a slimy, manipulative quality.
Yes, though it is more frequently applied to men. The female equivalent is sometimes 'sleazebag' or simply using 'sleazeball' for any gender. 'Sleaze' itself is not gendered.
The correct adjective is 'sleazy'. 'Sleazeball' is exclusively a noun (e.g., 'He is sleazy' or 'He is a sleazeball', but not 'He is sleazeball').
A person who is morally reprehensible, untrustworthy, and engages in low, dishonest, or unethical behaviour.
Sleazeball is usually informal, derogatory, slang. in register.
Sleazeball: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsliːz.bɔːl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsliːz.bɑːl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “As slimy as a sleazeball.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a greasy, slimy ball (sleaze-ball) that you wouldn't want to touch, representing a person you wouldn't trust.
Conceptual Metaphor
IMMORALITY IS PHYSICAL FILTH/SLIMINESS; A PERSON IS A CONTEMPTIBLE OBJECT (a ball).
Practice
Quiz
Which context is LEAST appropriate for using the word 'sleazeball'?