as in dusty
severely lacking in cleanliness My friend thinks that scuzzy dive bar has "character," but the smell alone is enough to keep me far away from that place.
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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 scuzzy Back in New York, following Marty’s unimaginable defeat in London, Abel Ferrara appears as a scuzzy street-level gangster who entrusts Marty and his taxi-driving best friend Wally (Tyler Okonma) with his near feral dog. —
Peter Debruge, Variety, 1 Dec. 2025 Knight convincingly takes us back to the grimy, scuzzy streets of 1880s East London for a showdown in and out of the boxing ring. —Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 20 Feb. 2025 Gorgeously textured and frequently very funny—Griffin’s wisecracking younger brother, Oren, is a scene-stealer—the book’s particular portrait of late-20th-century, upper-middle-class adolescence takes a generously wide angle, reveling in all the heady, scuzzy, confusing bits of coming of age. —Vogue, 26 Dec. 2024 The safety curtain that greets audiences filing in for the third Broadway revival of Glengarry Glen Ross depicts a set of steak knives, the infamous second prize in a contest for the highest sales figures among colleagues at a scuzzy Chicago real estate office. —David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019 See All Example Sentences for scuzzy
Peter Debruge, Variety, 1 Dec. 2025 Knight convincingly takes us back to the grimy, scuzzy streets of 1880s East London for a showdown in and out of the boxing ring. —Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 20 Feb. 2025 Gorgeously textured and frequently very funny—Griffin’s wisecracking younger brother, Oren, is a scene-stealer—the book’s particular portrait of late-20th-century, upper-middle-class adolescence takes a generously wide angle, reveling in all the heady, scuzzy, confusing bits of coming of age. —Vogue, 26 Dec. 2024 The safety curtain that greets audiences filing in for the third Broadway revival of Glengarry Glen Ross depicts a set of steak knives, the infamous second prize in a contest for the highest sales figures among colleagues at a scuzzy Chicago real estate office. —David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019 See All Example Sentences for scuzzy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scuzzy
Adjective
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Robert Pattinson jumped on the dusty-pink trend, strapping on a Jaeger-LeCoultre Duomètre Chronograph Moon with a copper-colored dial for the New York premiere of The Drama.— Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 11 Apr. 2026
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Across the river in Mexico, men hawk rides in their dusty pick-ups, on horseback or by donkey, to take tourists three-quarters of a mile up a dirt road.— Lauren Villagran, USA Today, 11 Apr. 2026
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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Each bite had a creamy, savory center and a light crunch that never felt greasy.— Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 9 Apr. 2026
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Also, compost responsibly by not putting meat scraps, greasy, oily or sweet materials in your compost pile.— Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Jackie Tohn looks elegant in a white button-down top and black flowing skirt at the Venice Family Clinic HEART Gala in Culver City, California, on April 18.— Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 21 Apr. 2026
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In Islam, a man is not allowed to touch a woman, so three women then came towards me dressed in black.— Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 21 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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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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Whispers about sleazy behavior generally do not meet the coverage threshold for traditional newsrooms, which are bound by strict ethical standards.— Justine McDaniel, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2026
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But while Villa was a revolutionary and man of the peasantry, Lessing became a sleazy entertainment lawyer.— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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That's not too shabby, considering that battery is feeding a 750-watt rear hub motor.— Joe Salas April 07, New Atlas, 7 Apr. 2026
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If Serena van der Woodsen had to end up with someone other than Dan Humphrey, Ryan Reynolds isn't too shabby a choice.— Rachel DeSantis, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Scuzzy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/thesaurus/scuzzy. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.
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