rustier; rustiest
1
: affected by or as if by rust
especially
: stiff with or as if with rust
2
: not as good or quick as usual or as in the past because of lack of practice or use
3
a
: of the color rust
b
: dulled in color or appearance by age and use
rusty old boots
4
: outmoded
rusty jokes
Synonyms of rusty
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Adjective (1)
Examples of rusty in a Sentence
Adjective (1)
rusty laws still on the books because no one bothered to repeal them
in a rusty voice the old man ordered us off his land
Recent Examples on the Web
Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 10 Dec. 2025
The sink gurgles like an infant, spitting up rusty water.
—Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 6 Dec. 2025
The color palette features faded blacks, dirty yellows, and rusty browns.
—Andrea Onate, Footwear News, 3 Dec. 2025
Busson even sees cinematic potential in a rusty boat moored offshore.
—Andrew Rice, Curbed, 2 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rusty
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show current usage.
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Adjective
Soak your rusty pieces in vinegar for a few hours or overnight.
—Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 10 Dec. 2025
The sink gurgles like an infant, spitting up rusty water.
—Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 6 Dec. 2025
The color palette features faded blacks, dirty yellows, and rusty browns.
—Andrea Onate, Footwear News, 3 Dec. 2025
Busson even sees cinematic potential in a rusty boat moored offshore.
—Andrew Rice, Curbed, 2 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rusty
Cite this Entry
“Rusty.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rusty. Accessed 17 Dec. 2025.
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