dusty

adjective

ˈdə-stē 

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

ˈdə-stə-lē 

adverb

dustiness

ˈdə-stē-nəs 

noun

Synonyms of dusty

• fine
• powdery

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

Saharan dust, a mass of dry, dusty air, can inhibit the development of tropical systems and storms. — Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 9 Sep. 2026

Purple Haze From smoky lilac to rich plum, from wine red to dusty mauve, the purple palette reigns supreme this time of year. — Joy Montgomery, Vogue, 9 Sep. 2026

Increasingly, representational politics feels like dusty land that’s been dried up from single-crop farming. — E. Alex Jung, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2026

Certain hours of that have got these dusty golden feelings that remind me of California. — Lily Moayeri, SPIN, 8 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing dusty

• dusty miller

Rhymes for dusty

• crusty
• gusty
• lusty
• musty
• rusty
• trusty

Kids Definition

dusty

adjective

ˈdəs-tē 

dustier; dustiest

1

: filled or covered with dust

2

: resembling dust

dusty soil

dustily

-tə-lē 

adverb

dustiness

-tē-nəs 

noun