Meaning & use
skeeze
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Meanings
nouncountableslangoffensive
An insulting slang word for a person seen as sleazy, dirty or morally unpleasant.
Grammar: A countable noun: he is a skeeze.
Patterns
- a skeeze
Some speakers call a man who bothers strangers a skeeze, and it is meant as an insult.
In the story the character is described as a skeeze, which shows the narrator's disgust.
The word skeeze is rude, so teachers advise students not to use it.
verbintransitiveslang
In slang, to behave in a sleazy or dirty way, or to get something by dishonest means.
Grammar: Very informal: no object.
Patterns
- skeeze around
Slang lists note that skeeze can mean to hang around in a sleazy way.
The character skeezed around the bar all night, according to the script.
People rarely use skeeze as a verb in everyday speech.
Word forms
| plural | skeezes |
|---|---|
| third person singular | skeezes |
| past tense | skeezed |
| -ing form | skeezing |
Common combinations
- total skeeze
- Reviewers called the character a total skeeze.
- skeeze around
- Slang uses skeeze around for loitering unpleasantly.
- call someone a skeeze
- Calling someone a skeeze is an insult.
- skeeze factor
- Critics mentioned the show's skeeze factor.
Synonyms and how they differ
- creep
- This is milder and more common, describing someone who unsettles others.
- sleaze
- This is the related word and is used for sleazy people or things generally.
- scumbag
- This is a stronger insult for a contemptible person.
- slimeball
- This stresses oily, dishonest charm and is more common in American speech.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: skeeze or sneeze?
skeeze vs sneeze
Sneeze is the sudden blowing of air through the nose, and has no connection.
Practice
What is the register of 'skeeze'?
Choose one answer.
Skeeze is slang and is an insult. It would not be used in polite or formal speech.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “skeeze”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.