'sloppily-directed' is a modern English compound formed from the adverb 'sloppily' (from 'sloppy' + -ly) and the past participle 'directed' (from the verb 'direct').

'sloppy' developed in English in the early 19th century from 'slop' (meaning liquid waste or mess) with the adjectival suffix '-y', while 'direct' comes from Latin 'dirigere' (through Old French/Latin influence) meaning 'to guide/straighten'; these elements combined in modern English to produce the descriptive compound 'sloppily-directed'.

Originally 'sloppy' primarily described something wet or messy and later broadened to mean careless or negligent; 'direct' originally meant 'to guide or set straight' and its past participle came to be used adjectivally; together the compound now means 'guided/managed carelessly'.