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 adverb
dustiness noun

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 The driver-narrator brought us slowly towards a herd of buffalo relaxing in their dusty wallow. Michael Goldstein, Forbes, 17 Oct. 2024 The missing ozone layer and magnetic field means ultraviolet radiation from the Sun is about 30% stronger than on Earth, sterilizing those dusty red rocks. Michael Irving, New Atlas, 17 Oct. 2024 Similarly, Bosc Pear ripens up a dusty tone with something a bit yellowish-golden. Tim Nelson, Architectural Digest, 17 Oct. 2024 Editor’s Note: This story contains graphic material that some readers may find disturbing. CNN — Bodies strewn across dusty streets, entire roads destroyed by Israeli strikes, people starving. Kareem Khadder, CNN, 16 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for dusty 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dusty.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of dusty was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near dusty

Cite this Entry

“Dusty.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dusty. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

dusty

adjective
dustier; dustiest
1
: filled or covered with dust
2
: resembling dust
dusty soil
dustily adverb
dustiness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on dusty

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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