1
as in filthy
not clean clean off those grubby hands before you touch anything
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in dirty
arousing or deserving of one's loathing and disgust that's a grubby reason to stop talking to a friend
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of grubby Stroheim, who shot on location, delivers a grungy and grubby story, his fanatical eye for grim detail producing a portrait of ordinary misery that assumes symbolic force. —
Richard Brody, New Yorker, 17 Jan. 2026 Yet its misguided grubby reputation is being peeled away to reveal the wealth of cultural and culinary treats. —Duncan Madden, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026 Welcome to the grubby reality of international diplomacy! —Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 30 Dec. 2025 To clean a really grubby baseboard, use a cloth and soapy water to remove dirt and stains. —Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 20 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for grubby
Richard Brody, New Yorker, 17 Jan. 2026 Yet its misguided grubby reputation is being peeled away to reveal the wealth of cultural and culinary treats. —Duncan Madden, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026 Welcome to the grubby reality of international diplomacy! —Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 30 Dec. 2025 To clean a really grubby baseboard, use a cloth and soapy water to remove dirt and stains. —Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 20 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for grubby
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grubby
Adjective
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Food that needed to be trashed for age or temperature abuse, malodorous air and filthy food containers were among the 33 violations an inspector found at a popular Miami seafood restaurant.— David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 21 Apr. 2026
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The girl from Santo Domingo’s bajo mundo made her name rapping gleefully filthy dembow in space-punk regalia.— E.R. Pulgar, Pitchfork, 16 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Prior to that time, a conservative who dared toss the dirty indictment at his or her opponent would face disapproval from all directions, and, of course, condemnation from the legacy media.— Bob Ehrlich, Baltimore Sun, 21 Apr. 2026
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Knicks fans have grown accustomed to Hart doing the dirty work throughout the past four postseasons, but this is the first time first-year Knicks head coach Mike Brown has gotten to deploy the do-it-all guard’s versatility in the playoffs.— Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 20 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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In 2020, stargazers flocked to dark sky locations to view the cosmic traveler Neowise, a visible comet then 64 million miles from Earth, with a dusty tail extending more than a million miles.— Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026
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The dusty chocolate coating is bitter and unpleasant, and there isn’t enough salt to offset it.— Alex Beggs, Bon Appetit Magazine, 25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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But by tweaking this archetype again and again, Chan transforms a cheap gimmick into a complex ecosystem of life-forms.— Dawn Chan, The New York Review of Books, 25 Apr. 2026
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The cheapest available seat was listed at $237 as of Friday evening.— Annie Costabile, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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After breakfast, walk to Sainte-Chapelle, home to breathtaking stained glass often overlooked in favor of Notre-Dame but arguably more spectacular.— Lauren Schuster, Miami Herald, 22 Apr. 2026
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After breakfast, walk to Sainte-Chapelle, a breathtaking stained glass chapel often overlooked in favor of Notre-Dame but arguably more spectacular.— Lauren Schuster, Charlotte Observer, 22 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The band felt embarrassed wearing those lame outfits.— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 21 Apr. 2026
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Full lame-duck seasons like the one coming up here are rare; and for good reason.— Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 19 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The land, unfenced, abuts a bald blackened hillside that must be public land.— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Aug. 2025
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In its time open, fueled by fans of its blackened mahi and buttery lobster rolls, owner Mike Smith has expanded his footprint, moving into a larger stall in the popular food hall — which has allowed for a menu expansion, as well.— Amy Drew Thompson, Orlando Sentinel, 6 Dec. 2022
Adjective
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These two beacons of truth and connoisseurs of mess have been bonded for over a decade, sharing the traumas of a crappy Boston dorm room and a pitiful Brooklyn dating scene.— Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 21 Apr. 2026
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Most of the time, experts say, vaguebooking boils down to a pitiful plea for attention on the part of the poster.— Charles Trepany, USA Today, 9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Grubby.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/thesaurus/grubby. Accessed 28 Apr. 2026.
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