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 adverb
dustiness noun

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
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.
This is not a dusty collection or hodgepodge of Gold Rush artifacts placed around a xeriscape. David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 25 Oct. 2025 The old shelves with their dusty cans were gone, replaced by three wooden pillars, each with a small platform at chest height. David Wingrave, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025 Then use a cloth to wipe out dusty corners. Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 24 Oct. 2025 For makeup, the artist dressed Kardashian’s face with bubblegum pink blush and and dusty pink shadow. Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 22 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for dusty

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of dusty was in the 13th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Dusty.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dusty. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

dusty

adjective
dustier; dustiest
1
: filled or covered with dust
2
: resembling dust
dusty soil
dustily adverb
dustiness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on dusty

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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