Definitions

junky

[juhng-kee] / ˈdʒʌŋ ki /

ADJECTIVE

bad

Synonyms

STRONGEST

awful cheap dreadful inferior lousy poor terrible

STRONG

abominable abysmal atrocious careless defective deficient dissatisfactory erroneous faulty imperfect mediocre second-rate shoddy substandard unacceptable unsatisfactory

WEAK

cheesy crappy cruddy crummy godawful half-assed inadequate poxy sad slipshod tacky

Antonyms

STRONGEST

OK good great high-quality pleasing superior well-made wonderful

ADJECTIVE

cheap

Synonyms

STRONGEST

bad poor

WEAK

base bogus catchpenny cheesy common commonplace crappy cruddy dud flashy garbage garish glitzy lousy mangy mean mediocre meretricious no bargain no good ordinary paltry ratty raunchy rinky-dink rotten rubbishy scroungy second-rate shoddy sleazy small-time tatty tawdry terrible trashy trumpery two-bit valueless white elephant worthless

Antonyms

WEAK

excellent noble precious priceless sophisticated superior valuable

ADJECTIVE

crappy

Synonyms

WEAK

cheap inferior lousy shoddy sub-par trashy useless worthless

ADJECTIVE

dissatisfactory

Synonyms

WEAK

bad damaged deficient disappointing displeasing distressing inadequate insufficient lame mediocre no good not satisfying not up to par offensive poor rotten unacceptable unsatisfying unsuitable unworthy useless

ADJECTIVE

jerry-built

Synonyms

WEAK

cheap defective insubstantial jerry-rigged makeshift ramshackle rickety shoddy slipshod unsound unsubstantial

ADJECTIVE

schlocky

Synonyms

WEAK

base broken-down cheap cheesy common dilapidated dingy discreditable disgraceful dishonorable disreputable gaudy ignominious inferior inglorious lousy makeshift mean miserable not up to snuff paltry plastic poor pretentious rotten run down scruffy second-rate seedy shabby shady shameful sleazy slipshod tacky tawdry trashy unrespectable

ADJECTIVE

shoddy

Synonyms

STRONGEST

inferior run down shabby shameful

STRONG

base common gaudy makeshift mean plastic poor sad

WEAK

broken-down cheap cheesy dilapidated dingy discreditable disgraceful dishonorable disreputable ignominious inglorious not up to snuff paltry pretentious scruffy second-rate seedy shady sleazy slipshod tacky tawdry trashy unrespectable

Antonyms

STRONGEST

good respectable

STRONG

noble refined sophisticated superior

WEAK

fine nice

ADJECTIVE

slipshod

Synonyms

WEAK

bedraggled botched disheveled faulty fly-by-night fouled-up haphazard imperfect inaccurate inexact loose messed-up messy neglected negligent raunchy screwed-up scrubby scruffy shabby shoddy slapdash sloppy slovenly tacky tattered threadbare unkempt unmeticulous unsystematic unthorough untidy

Antonyms

WEAK

careful neat polished refined well-done

ADJECTIVE

tawdry

Synonyms

STRONGEST

sleazy tacky vulgar

WEAK

blatant brazen chintzy common crude dirty flaring flashy flaunting garish gaudy gimcrack glaring glittering glitzy jazzy loud meretricious obtrusive offensive plastic poor raffish screaming showy sporty tinsel

Antonyms

STRONGEST

nice

WEAK

sophisticated tasteful

ADJECTIVE

trashy

Synonyms

STRONGEST

crummy sleazy tawdry

WEAK

abandoned barren bogus cheap cheesy crappy cruddy despicable empty flimsy garbage good-for-nothing grungy inferior lousy low in quality no-good ratty raunchy shabby shoddy useless valueless

Antonyms

STRONGEST

nice

ADJECTIVE

two-bit

Synonyms

WEAK

base catchpenny cheesy crappy cruddy garbage gaudy inferior lousy no good piddling poor ratty rinky-dink second-rate shoddy sleazy small-time tatty trashy valueless worthless

ADJECTIVE

unsatisfactory

Synonyms

STRONGEST

deficient disappointing distressing mediocre regrettable unacceptable unsuitable

WEAK

amiss bad damaged disconcerting displeasing disquieting disturbing for the birds lame no good not good enough not up to par offensive poor rotten sad schlocky second thin undesirable unwelcome unworthy upsetting vexing weak wrong

Antonyms

STRONGEST

satisfactory suitable

WEAK

OK acceptable adequate sufficient

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Through October, the junky small-company category rallied by 256% versus just 29% for those with quality characteristics.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 19, 2026

It included absurd videos, off-kilter advertising images, cheesy propaganda, fake news that looks pretty real, junky AI-written books, “workslop” reports that waste coworkers’ time — and lots of talking cats.

From Salon • Jan. 13, 2026

Even the artificial-intelligence trade, which has been producing profits, may be more junky than it seems.

From Barron's • Oct. 23, 2025

“It was dusty, and junky, and full of treasures,” she said.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 6, 2024

There are lights on in every room of my cousin’s house, and several of my uncles’ junky cars are in the driveway.

From "Dreaming in Cuban" by Cristina García

junky

Example Sentences

Related Words