shabbier; shabbiest
1
: in poor condition especially because of age or use
The furniture was old and shabby.
He wore a shabby coat.
Her first apartment was pretty shabby.
2
: dressed in clothes that are old and worn
shabby workmen
3
informal
: not fair, generous, or reasonable
They complained about the shabby treatment they received at the hotel.
Backing out of the deal was a shabby thing to do.
Cite this Entry
“Shabby.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/shabby. Accessed 17 Apr. 2026.
Copy Citation
