Definition of slop

Short definition: The word slop means a wet, messy mixture, often made of mud, water, or leftover food, that looks dirty and unpleasant. People also use it as a verb to describe spilling liquid carelessly and making a place wet and untidy.

Looking for a clear and natural explanation of the word slop? The word slop often sounds simple, but it carries a few different feelings. Sometimes it describes messy liquids that spill everywhere, and other times it talks about food that looks unappetizing or poorly made. In everyday life, slop can be used seriously, but it is often said with a bit of humor, annoyance, or criticism. Below, each meaning is explained in a relaxed and natural way, with explanations that feel human instead of stiff like a textbook.

Noun forms: slop, slops
Verb forms: slop, slops, slopping, slopped
Related: sloppy adj., spill v.
Syllable: slop

1. A liquid or messy mixture that spills or moves around easily.

   In its most basic meaning, slop refers to something wet and messy, like water, soup, or mud that splashes around. It often brings the image of carelessness, when things are poured too quickly or handled without attention.

   He carried the bucket too fast, and water began to slop over the sides.
   The soup started to slop onto the table when the bowl was knocked by accident.
   Mud and rainwater slopped across the floor, leaving a mess to clean up later.

   Synonyms: spill, splash, splash around, slosh, drip, pour messily, overflow, leak, scatter liquid, spread messily, gush slightly, ooze
   Antonyms: stay contained, remain dry, pour carefully, keep clean, stay neat, hold steady, not spill, stay tidy, remain controlled, keep inside, stay orderly, stay dry

2. Food that looks unpleasant or poorly made.

   Slop is often used to describe food that looks messy, watery, or not very tasty. People use this word when they feel disappointed, especially if the meal looks careless or rushed.

   He stared at the plate of slop, wondering how anyone could enjoy that meal.
   The cafeteria served what the students jokingly called slop, even though it filled their stomachs.
   She laughed and said, “This looks like slop, but it actually tastes okay.”

   Synonyms: mush, mess, poor food, watery meal, unappetizing dish, sloppy food, bad cooking, messy meal, low-quality food, tasteless dish, bland mess, food sludge
   Antonyms: delicious meal, tasty food, fine dining, well-cooked dish, gourmet food, appetizing meal, quality cooking, tasty dish, flavorful food, nice presentation, good cuisine, tasty plate

3. Careless or low-quality work.

   In a more figurative way, slop can describe work that feels rushed, lazy, or poorly done. When people use it this way, they are usually criticizing the lack of effort or care.

   He didn’t want to turn in slop, so he rewrote the report more carefully.
   The editor complained about the article being pure slop, saying it needed much more attention.
   She refused to accept slop and asked for a better version of the design.

   Synonyms: poor work, sloppy job, careless output, low-quality effort, rushed work, messy result, bad job, weak work, lazy effort, half-done task, untidy work, careless product
   Antonyms: quality work, careful effort, excellent job, neat result, professional work, well-done task, polished product, high standard, careful job, clean work, strong effort, well-made result

4. A way to describe something done without care.

   Sometimes slop is not just about things, but about attitudes. It can describe doing something in a careless, lazy, or unorganized way.

   He tends to slop through his homework, finishing quickly but missing many details.
   She warned him not to slop the paint, but to take his time and do it neatly.
   The job was rushed and slopped together, leaving many mistakes behind.

   Synonyms: do carelessly, rush through, be sloppy, act lazily, work messily, handle roughly, treat without care, throw together, do poorly, cut corners, be careless, act carelessly
   Antonyms: work carefully, take time, be neat, do properly, handle gently, be organized, work neatly, pay attention, be careful, act responsibly, do with care, work thoroughly

5. A word that often expresses criticism or humor.

   Beyond its literal meanings, slop is often used to express annoyance or joking criticism. It adds emotion to what people say, making complaints sound more colorful.

   He laughed and said the movie script was pure slop, even though he still enjoyed watching it.
   She called the messy presentation slop, but said it with a smile.
   Sometimes people use the word slop just to add humor to their complaints.

   Synonyms: nonsense, mess, rubbish, junk, garbage, poor stuff, low-quality thing, silly mess, useless material, weak content, bad output, trashy work
   Antonyms: quality stuff, good content, fine work, excellent material, solid output, great quality, strong result, useful content, good work, high value, meaningful result, well-made product