1
as in dilapidated
showing signs of advanced wear and tear and neglect
shabby wallpaper that was peeling from the walls
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in tattered
worn or torn into or as if into rags
shabby, stained clothes that are barely better than rags
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 shabby
Seth Rogen as the voice of a tiny alien co-piloting a space bus is an inspired concoction, as is a shabbier sci-fi realm with rest stops along the intergalactic highway.
—
ABC News,
24 June 2026
Meanwhile, the state of Independence Mall itself was surprisingly shabby.
—
Christopher Hooks,
Harpers Magazine,
23 June 2026
At school, he was hectored because of his shabby wardrobe.
—
Dan Pompei,
New York Times,
23 June 2026
His golf wasn’t too shabby, either.
—
Doug Ferguson,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for shabby
ABC News,
24 June 2026
Meanwhile, the state of Independence Mall itself was surprisingly shabby.
—
Christopher Hooks,
Harpers Magazine,
23 June 2026
At school, he was hectored because of his shabby wardrobe.
—
Dan Pompei,
New York Times,
23 June 2026
His golf wasn’t too shabby, either.
—
Doug Ferguson,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for shabby
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shabby
Adjective
-
The Reflecting Pool has been a pet project of the president, who, before renovations got underway this spring, characterized it as dilapidated and dirty and said previous presidents had neglected it.
-
Unable to pay rent, the boys moved several hours away to the small, dilapidated house with the leaky roof where rent is minimal.
Adjective
-
One-touch passing, feinting and ripping hard shots into a tattered net, each is super-charged by vivid daydreams of glory on the international stage.
-
The look was created from tattered bootleg championship shirts in blue, white and orange, which were sourced from vendors in NYC this week.
Adjective
-
Underdog startups and neglected divisions tell similar stories.
-
Cinematographer Guillermo Garza shoots neglected settings like fine art, embracing the grime.
Adjective
-
His hushed, ragged whisper feels suitably weathered, fitting a collection of songs that never are in a hurry.
-
Slugs and snails are some of the peskiest garden visitors that can riddle plant leaves with ragged holes or chew tender crops like lettuce down to nubs overnight.
Adjective
-
Directed by Son Jae-gon and starring Gang Dong-won, Uhm Tae-goo, and Park Ji-hyun, the film tracks a faded first-generation K-pop co-ed dance trio making a reckless attempt to stage a comeback two decades after a plagiarism scandal dissolved their careers.
-
The one difference was a new layer of red bricks over the faded previous layer.
Cite this Entry
“Shabby.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shabby. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
