Standard Lemma guide

seamy

adj · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /ˈsiːmi/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -iːmi
  • CMU ARPABET: S IY1 M IY0 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Sordid, squalid or corrupt.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • 1987, David Brin, The Uplift War, Phantasia Press She just hadn't been aware, having considered such tales rather seamy while growing up.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adj

Meaning 2

Having or showing a seam.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • 1964, Philip Larkin, ”The Whitsun Weddings”, Faber & Faber The fathers with broad belts under their suits And seamy foreheads; mothers loud and fat;

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

adjective satellite

Meaning 3

morally degraded- Seattle Weekly- James Joyce

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • a seedy district
  • the seamy side of life
  • sleazy characters hanging around casinos
  • sleazy storefronts with...dirt on the walls
  • the sordid details of his orgies stank under his very nostrils
  • the squalid atmosphere of intrigue and betrayal

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: seedy, sleazy, sordid, squalid

Antonyms: none provided

4

adjective satellite

Meaning 4

showing a seam

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From seam + -y.