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
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
Its dusty surface contains minerals, but not the organic nutrients plants need to grow.
—
Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 21 Mar. 2026
On a hot, dry March day, the dusty festival grounds — a movie set where Nelson filmed 1984’s Red Headed Stranger — took on the grit and hue of a classic Western.
—Josh Crutchmer, Rolling Stone, 20 Mar. 2026
In the dusty foothills, there are parking restrictions within a half mile in every direction of the Guthrie house, with A-frame stands warning the Pima County Sheriff’s Department will strictly enforce the prohibitions.
—Celina Tebor, CNN Money, 19 Mar. 2026
Interiors skew minimal and elemental (raw wood, concrete, metal) and spotlight a muted palette of sand and dusty olive green; shades that pull from the sunbaked landscape dotted with palms and agaves.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dusty
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.
Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 21 Mar. 2026
On a hot, dry March day, the dusty festival grounds — a movie set where Nelson filmed 1984’s Red Headed Stranger — took on the grit and hue of a classic Western.
—Josh Crutchmer, Rolling Stone, 20 Mar. 2026
In the dusty foothills, there are parking restrictions within a half mile in every direction of the Guthrie house, with A-frame stands warning the Pima County Sheriff’s Department will strictly enforce the prohibitions.
—Celina Tebor, CNN Money, 19 Mar. 2026
Interiors skew minimal and elemental (raw wood, concrete, metal) and spotlight a muted palette of sand and dusty olive green; shades that pull from the sunbaked landscape dotted with palms and agaves.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dusty
Cite this Entry
“Dusty.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dusty. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
