grungy

adjective

grun·​gy ˈgrən-jē 

grungier; grungiest

1

: shabby or dirty in character or condition

2

: characteristic of grunge music or fashion

Synonyms

• bedraggled
• befouled
• begrimed
• bemired
• besmirched
• black
• blackened
• cruddy
• dingy
• dirty
• draggled
• dusty
• filthy
• foul
• grimy
• grotty [chiefly British]
• grubby
• mucky
• muddy
• nasty
• smudged
• smutty
• soiled
• sordid
• stained
• sullied
• unclean
• uncleanly

Examples of grungy in a Sentence

After working in the garden all day, I felt sweaty and grungy.

a grungy pair of jeans

Recent Examples on the Web

Then add some white knee-high socks covered in (fake) blood, and grungy Dr. Martens Mary Jane platforms. —Victoria Montalti, refinery29.com, 10 May 2024

Cherry, sitting in a desk beside the iconic, Oscar-winning actress, wears a grungy collared black dress, fishnet stockings and knee-high socks with monochromatic black kicks. —Michelle Lee, Peoplemag, 11 July 2024

That fashion vibe, slightly disheveled and grungy, is nothing new for Bieber, of course; The pop star has been perfecting the art of being artfully grubby for years. —Christian Allaire, Vogue, 2 July 2024

Another popular name with a Changi Airport branch is Swee Choon, whose flagship store in the grungy Jalan Besar neighborhood is a hotspot for celebrities seeking a late-night dim sum supper. —Audrey Phoon, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

origin unknown

First Known Use

1965, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

grungy

adjective

grun·​gy ˈgrən-jē 

grungier; grungiest

: being in a shabby or dirty condition