earthier; earthiest
1
a
: of, relating to, or consisting of earth
earthy creatures like worms
b
: suggestive of earth (as in texture, odor, or color)
an earthy yellow
c
: rough, coarse, or plain in taste
earthy flavors
2
a
archaic : earthly, worldly
b
: characteristic of or associated with mortal life on the earth
prefers earthy to ethereal themes
3
: suggestive of plain or poor people or their ways: such as
a
: practical, down-to-earth
earthy problems of daily life
b
: crude, gross
earthy humor
c
: plain and simple in style : unsophisticated
earthy peasant cookery
earthy decor
earthiness noun

Examples of earthy in a Sentence

a blend of earthy colors The wine had an earthy flavor. Critics were impressed by the movie's earthy realism. food made with simple, earthy ingredients
Recent Examples on the Web To recreate Waters’s beloved item, the duo turned to a local ceramist, Niki Shelley, who glazed the vessel in a deep, earthy green. Roxanne Fequiere Elissa Suh Maria Geyman Katharine Sohn Jameson Montgomery Zoe Ruffner, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2024 From our column The Fourth Trimester, this Golden Chicken Soup is imbued with peppery turmeric, earthy fenugreek, and fall-off-the-bone meat. Nina Moskowitz, Bon Appétit, 25 Apr. 2024 Delicate white fillets of cod, haddock, or halibut make an ideal canvas for her marinade of coconut milk and lemon juice infused with fresh turmeric and ginger, which lend earthy, peppery notes. Romy Gill, Saveur, 24 Apr. 2024 His earthy, eloquent music still resonates deeply, as the highlights of his Monday show here demonstrated, even when — make that, especially when — his concert begins with a bump and takes several numbers to get in gear. George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Apr. 2024 The luxurious texture of Belgian chocolate perfectly harmonizes with the earthy vibe present in Amanita shrooms. Sponsored Content, The Mercury News, 12 Apr. 2024 It’s comprised of flowy fabrics and earthy tones for the springtime. Kerane Marcellus, Essence, 4 Apr. 2024 The city itself is known for its colorful wooden houses—a rainbow of rusty red, royal blue, sunny yellow and earthy green, each stacked prettily along the waterfront. Olivia Morelli, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Apr. 2024 Grab the throw on sale in two earthy colors: beige and sage green. Clara McMahon, Peoplemag, 12 Apr. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'earthy.' 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

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of earthy was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near earthy

Cite this Entry

“Earthy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/earthy. Accessed 1 May. 2024.

Kids Definition

earthy

adjective
earthier; earthiest
1
: consisting of or resembling earth
an earthy flavor
2
a
: suggestive of plain or poor people or their ways : practical sense 4, down-to-earth
earthy problems of everyday life
b
: not polite : crude
earthy humor
earthiness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on earthy

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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