drab 1 of 2

Definition of drabnext
as in boring
causing weariness, restlessness, or lack of interest the new city hall promises to be another drab pile of masonry for the town

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drab

2 of 2

noun

as in prostitute
a woman who engages in sexual activities for money in its time, this waterfront dive was decried as a den of iniquity, unfit even for the drunks and drabs who haunted it

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of drab
Adjective
And The Row’s appeal at first seemed like a pretentious effort to keep the TikTok crowd from gaping at its founders Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen’s it-shoes and fab-drab tailoring. Rachel Tashjian, CNN Money, 12 Mar. 2026 But three of their last four Champions League matches have ended in defeats, including a damaging collapse at home against Athletic Club, losing 3-2, and a drab 1-0 defeat away at Union Saint-Gilloise. Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2026
Noun
The Midi Dress Midi dresses are the opposite of drab at the moment. Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 18 Mar. 2025 Early mammals were small, strictly nocturnal, and altogether less showy–verging on downright drab, as supported by a study published March 13 in the journal Science. Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 13 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for drab
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drab
Adjective
  • Simply, Florida’s Pro Day was as boring as ever.
    Noah White, Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2026
  • Given a list, the sorts of things Americans are comfortable with AI doing tend to be impersonal or even boring tasks, as well as those that less directly impact them, like proofreading or searching online.
    Anthony Salvanto, CBS News, 26 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Legend says both Watson and Bemis were prostitutes, for instance.
    Sandra Dallas, Denver Post, 28 Mar. 2026
  • Tourists used to come to King’s Cross for heroin, prostitutes and the train to Scotland.
    Dominic Green, The Washington Examiner, 20 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • The employees of Rockin’ Grandma’s roam the grounds of the retreat site, which boasts multiple structures, and are visited by a series of guest speakers whose lectures range from the merely dull to the truly Dada.
    Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 27 Mar. 2026
  • Charvet’s ethos is about discretion, but the clothes are not dull.
    Marisa Meltzer, Vanity Fair, 24 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • The trope of the hooker-in-the-dumpster is as old as TV itself.
    Callum McLennan, Variety, 23 Mar. 2026
  • Hayley — who turns out to be a hooker who does secretarial admin on the side and not an executive assistant who occasionally threesomes — is extorting him for $750,000.
    Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 16 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • When swallowing becomes difficult, eating can feel tiring or uncomfortable.
    Sundeep Venkatesan, The Conversation, 23 Mar. 2026
  • And adopting the mantle of cultural curmudgeon can get tiring.
    Anna Holmes, The Atlantic, 11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • It's typically utilized on things like hinges, locks, gears and machinery, in dusty environments where traditional lubricants would attract debris.
    Ben Coxworth March 27, New Atlas, 27 Mar. 2026
  • On this gravelly, dusty, single lane, Bob Markle applied a pursuit trick that wardens learn early.
    Dave Duffey, Outdoor Life, 26 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Affecting the first two receptors means retatrutide may help suppress appetite and slow digestion, which can help users feel full after eating even smaller meals.
    Daryl Austin, USA Today, 28 Mar. 2026
  • Long train rides and other slow travel between places offer exactly the meditative in-between space your nervous system is craving.
    Kirah Tabourn, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • In this case, the dog’s weary posture and downcast eyes made the illusion especially convincing.
    Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
  • Israelis have also grown weary after nearly a month of daily sirens, 16 civilian deaths and dozens of people seriously injured.
    ABC News, ABC News, 29 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Drab.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drab. Accessed 31 Mar. 2026.

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