lousy
English
Etymology
From Middle English lousy, lowsy, lousi, equivalent to louse + -y.
Pronunciation
Adjective
lousy (comparative lousier, superlative lousiest)
- Remarkably bad; of poor quality, dirty, or underhanded; mean, contemptible.
- No offense, but his cooking is lousy.
- Synonym: miserable
- Infested with lice.
- (colloquial, usually with with) Filled or packed (with something, usually bad).
- The place was lousy with students.
- 2016, Rick Riordan, The Hammer of Thor, page 6:
- [I talked to] Annabeth about the Greek gods who hung out in New York and made her life difficult. Apparently North America was lousy with ancient gods. We had a full-blown infestation.
- Synonyms: inundated, jam-packed, teeming
Usage notes
- Considered an offensive insult prior to World War II, implying filthiness. Now considered a mild or rather dated term.
Derived terms
Related terms
- cootie, crab louse, crabs, louse, pubic louse
- licey (“infested with lice”)
Translations
remarkably bad; of poor quality, dirty, or underhanded
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Infested with lice
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