"Lousy" typically refers to something or someone that is of poor quality or is ineffective in some way. It can also describe a situation or experience that is unpleasant or disappointing. So when someone refers to something as "lousy," they usually mean that it is pretty terrible or unsatisfactory.
Note: The provided meaning of the answer is for the latest New York Times crossword puzzle clue: Pretty terrible. Explanations are generated by AI and may be inaccurate.