grunge

noun

ˈgrənj 

1

: one that is grungy

2

: rock music incorporating elements of punk rock and heavy metal

also : the untidy fashions typical of fans of grunge

grunger

ˈgrən-jər

noun

Examples of grunge in a Sentence

I'm a fan of grunge.

I cleared the grunge out of the drains.

Recent Examples on the Web

Against the backdrop of Seattle’s grunge era and the last years before the internet transformed adolescence, Friend Thing explores friendship, identity, loss, and belonging. — Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 7 July 2026

Set in 1995, the series follows a 16-year-old Elle (Lexi Minetree) after her family's idyllic Bel-Air life is upended, forcing them to relocate to rainy Seattle, the epicenter of the grunge movement. — Olivia Singh, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026

The track plays out over unconventional percussion and guitars that call back to 1990s post-grunge, with Mateyunas as the centerpiece. — Josh Crutchmer, Rolling Stone, 30 June 2026

The singer stole the spotlight, sporting flowers in her hair, chunky shoes and a babydoll dress long before Hole frontwoman Courtney Love would make the look a grunge staple. — Cara Lynn Shultz, PEOPLE, 29 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

back-formation from grungy

First Known Use

1965, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for grunge

• lunge
• plunge
• sponge
• expunge
• muskellunge