dusty

adjective

ˈdə-stē 

dustier; dustiest

1

: covered or abounding with dust

2

: consisting of dust : powdery

3

: resembling dust

4

: lacking vitality : dry

dusty scholarship

5

British : unsatisfactory

—used especially in the phrases dusty answer and not so dusty

dustily

ˈdə-stə-lē 

adverb

dustiness

ˈdə-stē-nəs 

noun

Synonyms of dusty

• fine
• powdery

Examples of dusty in a Sentence

He pulled dusty candlesticks from the shelf.

His new tie is a dusty blue.

Recent Examples on the Web

In between the swaggering pronouncements, Jaggseer waxes poetic about dusty roads and Chevy trucks and reflects on humble beginnings and hard work. — Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 19 Sep. 2026

At the time, resale brought to mind old, dusty clothes in the back of a closet and rummaging through thrift store racks just to put on someone else’s shoes. — Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2026

While the other tools in the box were dusty and unused, the hatchet was neither rusted nor old, and appeared deliberately rubbed in ash, according to American Heritage. — Lynsey Eidell, PEOPLE, 18 Sep. 2026

My brother comes back into the room, his hands muddy and his knees the colour of dusty brick. — Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing dusty

• dusty miller

Rhymes for dusty

• crusty
• gusty
• lusty
• musty
• rusty
• trusty

Kids Definition

dusty

adjective

ˈdəs-tē 

dustier; dustiest

1

: filled or covered with dust

2

: resembling dust

dusty soil

dustily

-tə-lē 

adverb

dustiness

-tē-nəs 

noun