Seedy describes something that looks run-down, shabby, and possibly disreputable or unsafe. A seedy motel might have peeling paint, flickering lights, and an overall feeling that makes you want to leave quickly. A seedy part of town often has neglected buildings, broken windows, and an atmosphere that feels unwelcoming or even dangerous.

The word carries a sense of decay and shadiness. A seedy character might wear rumpled clothes and have a shifty, untrustworthy manner. A seedy bar might be dark and dingy, the kind of place where nothing good seems likely to happen.

You might describe an old carnival as seedy if the rides look rusty and unsafe, the game booths are falling apart, and everything feels slightly suspicious. When something is seedy, it has an unmistakable quality of being past its prime, poorly maintained, and possibly hiding something unpleasant.