Meaning & use
shitty
Last updated
Meanings
adjectivecomparablevulgarinformal
Of very poor quality or very unpleasant; a rude, strong way of saying something is bad.
Grammar: Used before a noun or after a linking verb: a shitty day; the service was shitty.
Patterns
- feel shitty about something
I had a shitty day at work and just wanted to go home.
The reviews called the game a shitty product.
The weather has been shitty all week.
adjectivecomparablevulgarinformal
Feeling sick, guilty or ashamed.
Grammar: Used after feel: I feel shitty about it.
Patterns
- feel shitty
- feel shitty about something
I felt shitty about forgetting her birthday.
He felt shitty after staying up all night.
Word forms
| comparative | shittier |
|---|---|
| superlative | shittiest |
Common combinations
- a shitty day
- She had a shitty day and vented to her friend.
- feel shitty
- I feel shitty about cancelling at the last minute.
- a shitty job
- He quit a shitty job with long hours.
- shitty weather
- We canceled the picnic because of the shitty weather.
- a shitty deal
- They felt they got a shitty deal.
Synonyms and how they differ
- lousy
- Lousy is informal but not vulgar, so it is safe in more casual situations.
- rubbish
- Rubbish is a mild British word for poor quality and suits more settings.
- terrible
- Terrible is neutral and fits any situation, including formal writing.
- crappy
- Crappy is slightly milder than shitty but is still informal and rude.
Opposites
Word family
- shit noun
- a vulgar word for waste, or for rubbish
- shittier adjective
- comparative form
- shittiest adjective
- superlative form
- shittily adverb
- rarely used, in a very poor way
Practice
Which word is the best choice for a polite business email to describe poor service?
Choose one answer.
Poor is neutral and professional. Shitty is vulgar, and crappy and lousy are too informal for a business email.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “shitty”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.