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
Give a set of drab concrete front steps a DIY makeover with a simple paint job. Kristin Hohenadel, The Spruce, 2 May 2026 That olive-drab robotic dog was the second canine at AT&T’s exhibit, and by far the less furry of the two. Rob Pegoraro, PC Magazine, 1 May 2026
Noun
The Kennedy assassination still features many unknowns, and information is still being released about it in drips and drabs—previewing, perhaps, the future of disclosure around the Epstein case. Kaitlyn Tiffany, The Atlantic, 7 Aug. 2025 The Midi Dress Midi dresses are the opposite of drab at the moment. Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 18 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for drab
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drab
Adjective
  • As a means of conspicuous consumption the canon is poorly served, but as a destination to explore, as a complicated, contradictory, sometimes boring and often beautiful place, there can be much to be gained through a meander, a perusal, a stroll.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 21 May 2026
  • There are a lot of small, sincere plays that are also very boring.
    Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 21 May 2026
Noun
  • Since 1971, Robert Hansen, an unassuming 44-year-old Anchorage bakery owner and married father of two, had been abducting dancers and prostitutes, flying them to the backcountry on his Piper Super Cub plane and then releasing them and—armed with a gun and hunting knife—stalking them like wild prey.
    Johnny Dodd, PEOPLE, 22 May 2026
  • His constituents affirmed their support in 1990 after a scandal involving his association with a male prostitute, which a House Ethics Committee investigation found included Frank fixing parking tickets and making misleading statements to prosecutors in criminal cases involving the prostitute.
    Jon Keller, CBS News, 20 May 2026
Adjective
  • The world of college football is rarely dull.
    Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 15 May 2026
  • This charger brings interactivity and enthusiasm to this process that has been viewed as so dull for so long.
    Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 14 May 2026
Noun
  • This kind of inclusivity would explain Glenn Close‘s appearance — as a visiting literary scholar — at just the right moment, as well as Penélope Cruz’s showstopping cameo as Nené, a singer-slash-hooker who schools Sebastián on the then-nascent form of the modern transgender movement.
    Damon Wise, Deadline, 22 May 2026
  • Bemis, sold by her family in China and sent to America, worked as a domestic, not as a hooker.
    Sandra Dallas, Denver Post, 28 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Eventually, after tiring of The Duchess & I, The Duchess & Me and other similar names, the filmmakers decided to go with My Duchess.
    Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 12 May 2026
  • Traveling with a heavy bag can make any journey feel longer and more tiring.
    Destinee Scott, Travel + Leisure, 7 May 2026
Adjective
  • The blend of natural and painted woods with a color palette of dusty roses, umbers, and marigolds creates a warm atmosphere.
    Damian Fallon, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 May 2026
  • The Hippie Tree — a giant eucalyptus perched at the top of a dusty hill — is a quick jaunt from downtown.
    Nora Heston Tarte, Mercury News, 18 May 2026
Adjective
  • Scratching high on the bridge, Werner’s splintering fiddle calls to mind the slow, magical hatching of an egg.
    Lily Goldberg, Pitchfork, 22 May 2026
  • The better play is slower and pays back forever.
    Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026
Adjective
  • Mexican officials stay unusually quiet about the mission, while weary Havana residents greet the ship with cautious hope that scarce aid will reach children, seniors and the most vulnerable.
    Ariel Fernandez, Los Angeles Times, 18 May 2026
  • Sultry brass and piano spill all over the record, giving the whole affair a weary, second-side-of-Tattoo You vibe.
    Daniel Bromfield, Pitchfork, 14 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Drab.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drab. Accessed 24 May. 2026.

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