lousy
adjective
ˈlau̇-zē 
lousier; lousiest
1
: infested (see infest sense 2) with lice
the ragged, lousy tribesmen
T. E. Lawrence
T. E. Lawrence2
a
: totally repulsive (see repulsive sense 3) : contemptible
a lousy way of getting even
b
: miserably poor or inferior
got lousy grades
c
: somewhat ill
felt lousy after dinner
d
: amply supplied : replete
lousy with money
3
of silk : fuzzy and specked because of splitting of the fiber
lousily
ˈlau̇-zə-lē
adverb lousiness
ˈlau̇-zē-nəs
noun 
Synonyms
- cheap
- contemptible
- cruddy
- deplorable
- despicable
- dirty
- grubby
- lame
- mean
- nasty
- paltry
- pitiable
- pitiful
- ratty
- scabby
- scummy
- scurvy
- sneaking
- sorry
- wretched
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
She got lousy grades in high school. I like the work, but the pay is lousy. He was a lousy husband. They did a lousy job. He drank too much and felt lousy the next morning. It's a lousy, rainy day. That's a lousy way to treat a friend. See More
Recent Examples on the Web That individual, who is no longer receiving a paycheck, must start withdrawing on their funds as the market is going down and the economy is lousy. Jonathan I. Shenkman, Forbes, 31 July 2022 However, the failure of Justice League ($659 million amid lousy reviews and a $300 million budget) overshadowed both WB’s triumphs with It and Dunkirk and the notion that there was an apparent ceiling on non-Tony Stark MCU flicks. Scott Mendelson, Forbes, 11 Aug. 2022 His best ticket back to the nomination despite his age, lousy polls and an unprepossessing record is Mr. Trump being the likely Republican nominee. Holman W. Jenkins, WSJ, 16 Aug. 2022 From a mechanic’s point of view, 50 to 60 years ago, cars were pretty lousy, compared to cars today. Ray Magliozzi, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Aug. 2022 Bed Bath & Beyond just ousted its CEO following less than three years on the job after the company reported lousy results in June. Paul R. La Monica, CNN, 8 Aug. 2022 Though the probability of hitting the Mega Millions jackpot is notoriously lousy, the chief executives of Raising Cane’s are hedging their bets after buying lottery tickets for all 50,000 of their fast-food employees — for the second time in a week. María Luisa Paúl, Washington Post, 26 July 2022 Consumer sentiment is another common recession signal used by Wall Street, and that’s been lousy dating back to mid-2021. Will Daniel, Fortune, 23 Mar. 2022 According to FactSet, the reporting period that just past was, by any measure, a lousy one. Bernhard Warner, Fortune, 23 June 2022 See More
Jonathan I. Shenkman, Forbes, 31 July 2022 However, the failure of Justice League ($659 million amid lousy reviews and a $300 million budget) overshadowed both WB’s triumphs with It and Dunkirk and the notion that there was an apparent ceiling on non-Tony Stark MCU flicks. Scott Mendelson, Forbes, 11 Aug. 2022 His best ticket back to the nomination despite his age, lousy polls and an unprepossessing record is Mr. Trump being the likely Republican nominee. Holman W. Jenkins, WSJ, 16 Aug. 2022 From a mechanic’s point of view, 50 to 60 years ago, cars were pretty lousy, compared to cars today. Ray Magliozzi, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Aug. 2022 Bed Bath & Beyond just ousted its CEO following less than three years on the job after the company reported lousy results in June. Paul R. La Monica, CNN, 8 Aug. 2022 Though the probability of hitting the Mega Millions jackpot is notoriously lousy, the chief executives of Raising Cane’s are hedging their bets after buying lottery tickets for all 50,000 of their fast-food employees — for the second time in a week. María Luisa Paúl, Washington Post, 26 July 2022 Consumer sentiment is another common recession signal used by Wall Street, and that’s been lousy dating back to mid-2021. Will Daniel, Fortune, 23 Mar. 2022 According to FactSet, the reporting period that just past was, by any measure, a lousy one. Bernhard Warner, Fortune, 23 June 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing lousy
Kids Definition
lousy
adjective
ˈlau̇-zē
lousier; lousiest
1
: bad sense 1
I had a lousy time.
2
: deserving disgust or contempt
That lousy liar!
Medical Definition
lousy
adjective
ˈlau̇-zē
lousier; lousiest
: infested with lice
lousy
adjective
1
as in pitiful
arousing or deserving of one's loathing and disgust why, you lousy cheater! Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- pitiful
- lame
- cheap
- wretched
- nasty
- dirty
- disgusting
- mean
- hateful
- deplorable
- paltry
- sorry
- contemptible
- cruddy
- despicable
- vile
- sneaking
- pitiable
- grubby
- scabby
- ratty
- abominable
- scummy
- scurvy
- loathsome
- disgraceful
- shameful
- execrable
- odious
- abhorrent
- detestable
- repulsive
- disreputable
- revolting
- repugnant
- shabby
- dishonorable
- ignominious
- ignoble
- sordid
- craven
- squalid
- discreditable
- unscrupulous
- reprehensible
- condemnable
- dastardly
- base
- unethical
- cowardly
- low
- reptilian
- unprincipled
- revulsive
- censurable
- reproachable
- blamable
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- admirable
- praiseworthy
- creditable
- laudable
- meritorious
- commendable
- good
- honorable
- noble
- honest
- scrupulous
- reputable
- redoubtable
- right
- moral
- upright
- virtuous
- ethical
- righteous
- principled
- high-minded
- right-minded
2
as in poor
falling short of a standard I actually play a pretty lousy game of tennis Synonyms & Similar Words
- poor
- unacceptable
- bad
- lame
- wrong
- terrible
- horrible
- awful
- pathetic
- deficient
- crummy
- disastrous
- flawed
- wretched
- unsatisfactory
- dreadful
- substandard
- suboptimal
- subpar
- bastard
- brutal
- inferior
- paltry
- sour
- inadequate
- ill
- off
- lacking
- crumby
- rotten
- from hunger
- dissatisfactory
- abysmal
- miserable
- wack
- defective
- useless
- below par
- bush
- wanting
- worthless
- atrocious
- mediocre
- short
- crappy
- punk
- bush-league
- horrendous
- shoddy
- insufficient
- damnable
- gross
- sucky
- execrable
- under par
- deplorable
- stinky
- vile
- lesser
- detestable
- abominable
- faulty
- common
- egregious
- unspeakable
- junky
- gnarly
- meager
- odious
- cheesy
- sleazy
- rubbishy
- bum
- trashy
- reprehensible
- shabby
- miserly
- flagrant
- skimpy
- stingy
- valueless
- coarse
- second-rate
- low-rent
- bitchin'
- scurrilous
- scanty
- mean
- cut-rate
- low-grade
- villainous
- skimp
- fake
- phony
- meagre
- miscreant
- spare
- sham
- counterfeit
- niggardly
- phoney
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- adequate
- decent
- satisfactory
- acceptable
- standard
- fine
- okay
- great
- excellent
- respectable
- tolerable
- passable
- better
- perfect
- superior
- classical
- terrific
- wonderful
- superb
- classic
- splendid
- stellar
- prime
- exceptional
- special
- marvelous
- marvellous
- fabulous
- superlative
- mediocre
- divine
- sufficient
- noble
- top
- choice
- neat
- exceptional
- sensational
- heavenly
- nifty
- dandy
- mean
- grand
- average
- slick
- fancy
- premium
- par excellence
- sterling
- swell
- keen
- minimal
- all right
- unsurpassed
- boss
- banner
- middling
- fair
- capital
- useful
- suitable
- unexceptional
- OK
- worthy
- supernal
- borderline
- top-notch
- crackerjack
- first-rate
- groovy
- first-class
- so-so
- bang-up
- jim-dandy
- tip-top
- high-test
- satisfying
- high-grade
- A1
- gratifying
3
as in terrible
extremely unsatisfactory the restaurant served a lousy meal that we shouldn't have had to pay for Synonyms & Similar Words
- terrible
- horrible
- awful
- poor
- bad
- rotten
- atrocious
- wretched
- dismal
- sucky
- defective
- execrable
- inadequate
- flawed
- insufficient
- miserable
- substandard
- mediocre
- punk
- lacking
- worthless
- shameful
- inferior
- deficient
- useless
- contemptible
- off
- faulty
- abominable
- wanting
- reprehensible
- damnable
- valueless
- bum
- odious
- second-rate
- vile
- low-grade
- fiendish
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- great
- excellent
- wonderful
- marvelous
- marvellous
- superior
- exceptional
- prime
- adequate
- choice
- sufficient
- premium
- satisfactory
- first-rate
- acceptable
- bitchin'
- first-class
4
as in bad
of low quality a tacky store selling lousy souvenirs Synonyms & Similar Words
- terrible
- poor
- bad
- cheap
- inferior
- rotten
- mediocre
- coarse
- crappy
- common
- worthless
- shoddy
- miserable
- wretched
- useless
- rubbishy
- execrable
- junky
- bum
- cheapjack
- cheesy
- sleazy
- trashy
- schlock
- gimcrack
- trumpery
- fake
- low-rent
- schlocky
- second-rate
- shlocky
- counterfeit
- lackluster
- low-grade
- cut-rate
- bargain-basement
- shlock
- indifferent
- valueless
- el cheapo
- tawdry
- gaudy
- shabby
- meretricious
- showy
- kitschy
- garish
- flashy
- glitzy
- swank
- tacky
- ostentatious
- kitsch
- splashy
- seedy
- phony
- sham
- second-class
- swanky
- brummagem
- ultracheap
- phoney
- supercheap
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- good
- excellent
- superior
- fine
- handsome
- elegant
- top-notch
- first-rate
- first-class
- tasteful
- high-grade
- polished
- refined
- handcrafted
5
as in crowded
possessing or covered with great numbers or amounts of something specified a Manhattan neighborhood that is lousy with wannabe actors Synonyms & Similar Words
- crowded
- abundant
- jammed
- teeming
- filled
- crammed
- packed
- swarming
- stuffed
- fraught
- thick
- bursting
- awash
- busy
- saturated
- rife
- replete
- overcrowded
- thronging
- abounding
- flush
- full
- buzzing
- overloaded
- bulging
- overstuffed
- congested
- clogged
- brimming
- loaded
- fat
- chockful
- overladen
- chock-full
- overflowing
- overfull
- overfilled
- jam-packed
- astir
- humming
- animated
- surfeited
- bustling
- alive
- lively
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- devoid
- empty
- barren
- blank
- bare
- insufficient
- stark
- short
- vacant
- void
- incomplete
- deficient
- depleted
- exhausted
- drained