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as in poor
falling short of a standard I actually play a pretty lousy game of tennis

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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 lousy The first season has a pretty lousy 45% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes, but audiences were a little more upbeat, with a 73% audience score. Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 24 June 2025 The reasons have been well-documented: the Chiefs were lousy on the offensive line and banged up at receiver. Zak Keefer, New York Times, 20 June 2025 Especially since there already was a movie, Spinning Gold, that detailed Kiss' pre-superstar years, which was pretty lousy. Jordan Hoffman, EW.com, 7 June 2025 If the streamer makes a lousy movie, the project will be criticized for its quality. James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 2 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for lousy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lousy
Adjective
  • As holidays go, however, Flag Day can feel a bit lame.
    Kevin Fisher-Paulson, San Francisco Chronicle, 8 June 2021
  • My 11-year-old loved watching the pups roll balls and play a giant floor piano, but for non-dog owners (guilty as charged), parts of the series—like dressing dogs in little hats and outfits for a Parisian fashion show—feel lame.
    Tim Neville, Outside Online, 23 Nov. 2020
Adjective
  • But August is perhaps a poor month in which to rally the staff.
    John Updike, New Yorker, 11 July 2025
  • For certain situations, particularly if someone is in poor health, experts generally say claiming early makes sense.
    Lorie Konish, CNBC, 11 July 2025
Adjective
  • Vegas bounced back from a terrible loss to the Fever with an 86-68 win over the Sun on Sunday.
    Kilty Cleary, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 July 2025
  • And because of that, it’s shielded us from the terrible things that happen downstream in the supply chain.
    Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 8 July 2025
Adjective
  • With a price tag of $99.99, the half-size bottles weren’t exactly cheap by the ounce—but that didn’t prevent stocks from selling out fast, spurred by excellent word of mouth.
    David Thomas Tao, Forbes.com, 8 July 2025
  • Shop the Asus Vivobook Go 15.6-Inch FHD Slim Laptop, which is marked down to its cheapest price of the year.
    Clara McMahon, People.com, 8 July 2025
Adjective
  • Also in central Gaza on Sunday, at least 12 people were killed and more than 40 injured when an Israeli airstrike targeted a crowded junction, according to Dr. Mohammed Abu Salmiya, Director of Al-Shifa Medical Complex central Gaza City.
    Tim Lister, CNN Money, 14 July 2025
  • The downside of this route is that digital books can easily get lost in the shuffle of crowded devices.
    Vikrant Shaurya, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
Adjective
  • And at times, in certain places and situations, it was expected and welcome—on a long walk, or when a person confessed something pitiful, or at a funeral or a party.
    Zadie Smith, New Yorker, 30 June 2025
  • This could have been a sad or pitiful moment; instead, it was suffused with warmth.
    Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 12 June 2025
Adjective
  • The use of unilateral sanctions against Special Rapporteurs or any other UN expert or official is unacceptable.
    Amira El-Fekki‎, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 July 2025
  • Students, both the ones who behave and the ones who misbehave, need to know that there are real consequences for unacceptable behavior.
    Carrie Lukas, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025
Adjective
  • The market is just full of butcher shops, with the most ghastly whole pigs and halves of steers hanging from horrible hooks.
    John Updike, New Yorker, 11 July 2025
  • Getting your car stolen is a horrible experience, but there are ways to deter theft and steps to follow if your vehicle is stolen.
    Charles Singh, AZCentral.com, 11 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Lousy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lousy. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.

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