dingy

adjective

din·​gy ˈdin-jē 

dingier; dingiest

1

: dirty, unclean

dingy fingernails

2

: shabby, squalid

a dingy hotel room

dingily

ˈdin-jə-lē 

adverb

dinginess

ˈdin-jē-nəs 

noun

Synonyms of dingy

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

Examples of dingy in a Sentence

He's been staying in a dingy motel.

the bed sheets were pretty dingy so we threw them in the laundry pile

Recent Examples on the Web

The Miami terminals featured dingy discount stores, and the food choice sometimes came down to a cafeteria without much flavor. — Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 7 July 2026

Even though modern machines and detergents have taken most of the workload out of the task, there are still some outdated laundry habits that may leave your clothes and linens looking dingy, smelling less than fresh, and feeling scratchy. — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 5 July 2026

Keep It Clean An unkempt shower curtain can make your bathroom appear dingy. — Shivani Vyas, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 June 2026

But even the most stylish setup can be dulled by dingy concrete. — Martha Stewart, 21 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

origin unknown

First Known Use

1656, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for dingy

• stingy

Kids Definition

dingy

adjective

din·​gy ˈdin-jē 

dingier; dingiest

: rather dark and dirty : not fresh or clean

a dingy room

dingy colors

dingily

-jə-lē 

adverb

dinginess

-jē-nəs 

noun