grimy

adjective

ˈgrī-mē How to pronounce grimy (audio)
Definition of grimynext
as in filthy
not clean this mirror is so grimy you can barely see your reflection in it

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 grimy His comments illustrated the unique burden of the hip-hop superstar, straining to stay in touch with the grimy realism of his earliest rhymes. — Hua Hsu, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2026 Vancouver, for all its celebrity hangouts and major studio and streamer film shoots, is also home to a grimy downtown eastside neighborhood where getting off addictions and out of homelessness for many remains a constant struggle. — Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 14 Sep. 2026 Given the grimy, gory nature of writer-director Paul Greengrass’ historical film, Garfield had to rely on his go-to ways to unwind. — Jack Smart, PEOPLE, 3 Sep. 2026 Written with grimy, enlivening frankness — and an ability to dig into moral ambiguity — every character scrambles to get a leg up. — Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for grimy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grimy
  1. filthy
  2. dusty
  3. dirty
  4. blackened
  5. stained
  6. muddy
  7. black
Adjective
  • Everybody wants to bring back trip-hop, but no one remembers how filthy Dummy actually sounds.
    — Sam Goldner, Pitchfork, 27 Oct. 2026
  • When the drop comes in, there’s this really filthy synth bass.
    — Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of filthy
Adjective
  • Finding the new forms The findings reveal that certain materials capable of transforming clean tech may have been sitting on dusty digital shelves since the 1970s.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Instead, they will be anchored to the dusty desert floor — in Joshua Tree.
    — Deborah Netburn, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of dusty
Adjective
  • In the world of sports broadcasting, ESPN and Buck did Aikman dirty.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Now Gizelle has to decide whether that person is her longtime friend in real life or the woman who has spent the past several seasons doing much of her dirty work.
    — Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of dirty
Adjective
  • The land, unfenced, abuts a bald blackened hillside that must be public land.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Aug. 2025
Definition of blackened
Adjective
  • Luckily the damage appears to be mostly cosmetic, and the beautiful balustrades, stained glass, and mahogany built-ins have survived the makeover unscathed.
    — Nora DeLigter, Curbed, 23 Oct. 2026
  • While stained glass does have a residential history—Frank Lloyd Wright in particular was known for incorporating art glass in projects—these colorful windows most often have religious connotations.
    — Kelsey Mulvey, Architectural Digest, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of stained
Adjective
  • Introduced in muddy, crunchy scenes of big game highlights and raucous partying, the boys hear news of the attack on Pearl Harbor.
    — Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Police later recovered the firearms in the bottom of a muddy canal at Northwest 10th Street and 18th Avenue.
    — Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of muddy
Adjective
  • There is an accumulation of black growth on the lid and metal chute inside of ice machine.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2026
  • To keep your witch costume fashionably chic, pointy-toe black lace-up boots or pumps are the perfect finishing touch.
    — Tonya Blazio-Licorish, Footwear News, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of black

Browse Nearby Words

grimness
grimy
grin
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of Pyrrhic

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Pwn, Skibidi, Girlboss and Other Words Added to the 2026 Scrabble Dictionary

The Words of the Week - Oct. 30

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
couple-laugh-cafe
Quiz: Foreign Phrases You Should Know Check out your bona fides and avoid any faux pas.
See All