grime 1 of 2

noun

ˈgrīm How to pronounce grime (audio)
Definition of grimenext
as in dirt
foul matter that mars the purity or cleanliness of something this new product really cuts through grime

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

grime

2 of 2

verb

as in to stain
to make dirty countless hours of work were needed to clean the floors of the old warehouse that had been grimed from a century of use

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 grime
Noun
Holden’s vignettes are caked in grime and emerge at a reckless pace. — Matthew Ritchie, Pitchfork, 15 Oct. 2026 The easy-to-use machine simply sprays the area with cleaning solution, scrubs the carpet fibers, and extracts the dirty water and grime. — Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Oct. 2026
Verb
Over time, the sheets' fibers begin breaking down and grime such as body oils no longer washes out as well, causing the sheets to become less sanitary. — Maria Sabella, The Spruce, 15 June 2026 On Starz’s latest offering, every wall is realistically grimed, and every plaid is laid just so. — Graham Hillard, The Washington Examiner, 22 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for grime
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grime
  1. dirt
  2. stain
  3. muck
  4. dirty
  5. soil
  6. blacken
  7. filth
Noun
  • For the dirt topping, feel free to follow your imagination and taste, substituting or replacing any of the ingredients with your favorite chocolate cookies or treats while still keeping the visual appearance of a varied, crumbly soil.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2026
  • For the aesthetes who have already seen the latest exhibition at MoMA, this weekend guide for design lovers is intended to point you in a few other directions (and no, this does not include that viral room full of dirt in SoHo).
    — Jessica Sulima, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of dirt
Verb
  • The armpits of the Quran shirt are stained with centuries-old sweat.
    — Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026
  • In 2005, a vote-buying scheme known as Mensalão led to the conviction of senior PT figures and stained the party’s image.
    — Alessandra Freitas, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of stain
Noun
  • Wolf has never sounded more grounded than with 10 toes down in the muck.
    — Hattie Lindert, Pitchfork, 9 Oct. 2026
  • As feminists fought patriarchy’s attempt to render women vulnerable socially and leave us dependent on men for money and more, the all-too-human inevitability of vulnerability and dependence got lost in the muck.
    — Emily Watlington, ARTnews.com, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of muck
Verb
  • To even wade into the arguments might dirty your hands, and mind.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Satisfy your lasagna craving without dirtying up a pile of dishes.
    — Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 9 July 2026
Definition of dirty
Noun
  • Bukele late Thursday said in his statement on X that the deployment of his soldiers and equipment on Haitian soil is nearly finished.
    — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 30 Oct. 2026
  • By analyzing drone data, the government concluded that they were launched from Ethiopian soil, added Abdel Qader in a SUNA report.
    — YASSIR ABDALLA, Arkansas Online, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of soil
Verb
  • As the balloon and its occupants fell to the ground, the nylon envelope and the gondola separated, and the wreckage scattered over a roughly 100-yard area, parts of it blackened by the explosion and resulting fire.
    — Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 21 Oct. 2026
  • The shrinking process had exaggerated some features, vanished others, and blackened the flesh.
    — Daniel Barnum, Longreads, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of blacken
Noun
  • The bleachy sunlight is just right, as is the shrugging acceptance that this town’s strivers must accept a fair amount of filth.
    — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Too many rodents, too much filth and too little sanitizer led inspectors to shut down a Miami ramen restaurant for a couple of days last week.
    — David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of filth

Browse Nearby Words

grimacing
grime
grimed
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Cite this Entry

“Grime.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grime. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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