sleaze
Sordid, seedy behavior
Sleaze is sordid, corrupt, or distasteful behavior, especially involving sex or money: The tabloids thrive on celebrity sleaze.
A sleaze or sleazebag is a person who embodies such qualities—dishonest, slimy, or sexually predatory.
As an adjective, sleazy describes cheap tackiness or moral grubbiness: a sleazy motel, sleazy business dealings.
Corrupt payment for influence
- graftIllicit political gain
- kickbackIllegal payment for services
- payolaBribes for airplay
- embezzlementFraudulent taking of entrusted assets
extortion · racketeering · cronyism · nepotism · profiteering · skimming · fiddling · malfeasance
Disreputable or sun-blocked
- dodgyQuestionable in character
- crookedBent or dishonest
- underhandedSecretly dishonest or unfair
- unscrupulousLacking moral principles
dishonorable · slimy · slippery · dishonest · deceitful · venal · two-faced · conniving
Rundown and disreputable
- grimyCoated in stubborn dirt
- dingyDiscolored from grime
- grubbySoiled and unkempt
- rundownQuick overview of facts
dilapidated · shabby · sordid · flophouse · fleabag · decrepit · ramshackle · neglected
Sexually creepy
- creepyDisturbingly strange
- lecherousShowing excessive sexual desire
- skeevyDisgustingly disreputable
- smuttyObscene or indecent
leering · predatory · suggestive · voyeuristic · lewd · indecent · pornographic · exploitative
bribery
Corrupt payment for influence
embezzlement · extortion · racketeering · cronyism · nepotism · profiteering · skimming · fiddling · malfeasance · fraud
shady
Disreputable or sun-blocked
- dodgyQuestionable in character
- crookedBent or dishonest
- underhandedSecretly dishonest or unfair
unscrupulous · dishonorable · slimy · slippery · dishonest · deceitful · venal · two-faced · conniving · scheming
seedy
Rundown and disreputable
rundown · dilapidated · shabby · sordid · flophouse · fleabag · decrepit · ramshackle · neglected · blighted
tacky
Vulgar or slightly sticky
cheap · gaudy · garish · chintzy · shoddy · vulgar · flashy · crass · kitsch · meretricious
pervy
Sexually creepy
smutty · leering · predatory · suggestive · voyeuristic · lewd · indecent · pornographic · exploitative · objectifying
- scandalscandal, infamy, disgrace, coverup, cover-up
- Las Vegascasino, slot machine, gambling, blackjack, poker
- scoundrelsscoundrel, rogue, knave, cad, villain
- UK PoliticsHouse of Commons, House of Lords, MP, Tory, Downing Street
- tabloid mediasensationalism, tabloids, yellow journalism, tabloidization, gossip columns
- UK Scandalsexpenses scandal, phone hacking, Partygate, duck house, Prince Andrew
sleazedecency
Moral appropriateness in behavior
respectability · propriety · dignity · class · integrity
sleazequality
Standard or attribute
legitimacy · class · respectability · substance · authenticity
- sleaze ballDisreputable, sordid person
- sleaze factorPerceived level of corruption
- sleazy characters