grimy

1 of 2

adjective

ˈgrī-mē 

grimier; grimiest

: full of or covered with grime : dirty

wiped his grimy hands

griminess noun

griminess

2 of 2

noun

grim·​i·​ness

-mēnə̇s, 

-min-

plural -es

: the quality or state of being grimy

Synonyms of grimy

Adjective

• filthy
• dusty
• dirty
• blackened
• stained
• muddy
• black

Examples of grimy in a Sentence

Adjective

this mirror is so grimy you can barely see your reflection in it

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Vancouver, for all its celebrity hangouts and major studio and streamer film shoots, is also home to a grimy downtown eastside neighborhood where getting off addictions and out of homelessness for many remains a constant struggle. — Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 14 Sep. 2026

Given the grimy, gory nature of writer-director Paul Greengrass’ historical film, Garfield had to rely on his go-to ways to unwind. — Jack Smart, PEOPLE, 3 Sep. 2026

Written with grimy, enlivening frankness — and an ability to dig into moral ambiguity — every character scrambles to get a leg up. — Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026

The song was a frenetic evolution of Brooklyn drill—the grimy, bone-rattling subgenre of hip-hop popularized by Bobby Shmurda—and its instrumental by the British producer 808Melo gave it a brash East London bounce. — Taran Dugal, New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1612, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for grimy

• slimy