Synonyms
Examples of musty in a Sentence
a dark and musty basement
the musty prose of writers who use the same expressions over and over
Recent Examples on the Web
While the process was largely an exercise in repetition, Sachdev encountered a few creative takes on a musty old format.
—
WIRED, 17 Oct. 2023
In truth, Tony had never stepped foot inside that Erewhon, which had occupied the same musty space at 7660 Beverly Blvd.
—Seth Abramovitch, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Oct. 2023
Their low-key jaunts about town—to their catfish joint, the health center, or the homes of various elders—give way to sometimes meandering one-on-one scenes that lend several episodes the musty air of a chamber play.
—Inkoo Kang, The New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2023
That play was called Abraham, and here, millennia later, Perkins’s sweet, enthusiastic, and—yes, despite his musty morals—heroic hermit is still the soul of the story.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2023
Longtime fans are getting aggravated with all the buzzwords and empty promises, and the Fenway Park experience is getting musty.
—Peter Abraham, BostonGlobe.com, 15 Sep. 2023
Say goodbye to smelly gym clothes or musty towels, and hello to fresh, clean laundry every time.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 22 Apr. 2023
The right word might be vintage: There’s nothing musty about Flick’s work, and viewers who can never get enough geometric abstraction will find a lot to like.
—Kriston Capps, Washington Post, 30 Aug. 2023
Replace flour with a foul, musty, or sour odor or if the texture and coloring have changed.
—Perri Ormont Blumberg, Southern Living, 20 July 2023
See More
WIRED, 17 Oct. 2023
In truth, Tony had never stepped foot inside that Erewhon, which had occupied the same musty space at 7660 Beverly Blvd.
—Seth Abramovitch, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Oct. 2023
Their low-key jaunts about town—to their catfish joint, the health center, or the homes of various elders—give way to sometimes meandering one-on-one scenes that lend several episodes the musty air of a chamber play.
—Inkoo Kang, The New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2023
That play was called Abraham, and here, millennia later, Perkins’s sweet, enthusiastic, and—yes, despite his musty morals—heroic hermit is still the soul of the story.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2023
Longtime fans are getting aggravated with all the buzzwords and empty promises, and the Fenway Park experience is getting musty.
—Peter Abraham, BostonGlobe.com, 15 Sep. 2023
Say goodbye to smelly gym clothes or musty towels, and hello to fresh, clean laundry every time.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 22 Apr. 2023
The right word might be vintage: There’s nothing musty about Flick’s work, and viewers who can never get enough geometric abstraction will find a lot to like.
—Kriston Capps, Washington Post, 30 Aug. 2023
Replace flour with a foul, musty, or sour odor or if the texture and coloring have changed.
—Perri Ormont Blumberg, Southern Living, 20 July 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'musty.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
First Known Use
1530, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Dictionary Entries Near musty
Cite this Entry
“Musty.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/musty. Accessed 30 Nov. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
musty
adjective
mustier; mustiest
1
a
: affected by dampness or mildew : moldy
b
: tasting or smelling of dampness and decay
2
a
: stale entry 1 sense 2, trite
musty proverbs
b
: outmoded, antiquated
musty traditions
mustiness
noun
More from Merriam-Webster on musty
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share