chiefly British

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 grotty The show, which chronicled two spiraling roommates in a grotty London flat who invariably do exactly the wrong thing, is not for the faint of heart. Natasha Frost, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2025 The assault took place on the grottiest of vessels, manned by violent criminals who had been banished into deep space. Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 28 Feb. 2025 In a stark contrast to its predecessor, the pop star’s EP tracks chronicled the sordid and grotty bits of celebrity. Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 19 Feb. 2025 The assault took place on the grottiest of vessels, manned by violent criminals who had been banished into deep space. Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 28 Feb. 2025 In a stark contrast to its predecessor, the pop star’s EP tracks chronicled the sordid and grotty bits of celebrity. Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 19 Feb. 2025 Bloober has translated the past as one might a literary classic, illuminating and modernizing the grottiest game to ever grace the PlayStation 2. Lewis Gordon, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2024 The closest match to the Grand Old Opry is Magic City, the famed strip club at the grotty end of south downtown. George Chidi, Rolling Stone, 8 Sep. 2022 The film is the story of Robert (Daniel Zolghadri), who wants to reject the suburban comforts of his upbringing for a grotty world as an aspiring underground cartoonist. Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grotty
Adjective
  • These words are so filthy, even 40 years later, that Tribune editors will only allow an edited version to be included here.
    Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 11 July 2025
  • The girl is so filthy that just one look at her gets across the idea that this lifestyle is repellent.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2025
Adjective
  • Just think about where your luggage has been; it gets hauled through airports, goes for a ride on a conveyor belt, rolls across dusty parking lots, is stashed into overhead bins, and is often handled by multiple people with no guarantee of clean hands.
    Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 June 2025
  • He’s worn them outside on dusty furniture, has cat fur all over them ...
    Brian Anthony Hernandez, People.com, 28 June 2025
Adjective
  • Fucci, who was staying near the Guadalupe River, filmed on her phone a torrent of muddy water flooding the road to her grandmother's house.
    Susan Miller, USA Today, 6 July 2025
  • Navy blue and sage green have become go-to choices but are losing their charm; opt for moody hues like muddy green, rust, or confident forest green instead.
    Tessa Cooper, Southern Living, 5 July 2025
Adjective
  • In its time open, fueled by fans of its blackened mahi and buttery lobster rolls, owner Mike Smith has expanded his footprint, moving into a larger stall in the popular food hall — which has allowed for a menu expansion, as well.
    Amy Drew Thompson, Orlando Sentinel, 6 Dec. 2022
  • There are no glamorous furnishings — just a French window, its blackened panes suggesting the dark of night.
    Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2022
Adjective
  • Environmentalists and labor rights activists have complained that China's graphite mining and production is dirty and dangerous.
    Rick Barrett, jsonline.com, 7 July 2025
  • Employees get their hands dirty in the intro course by learning how to prompt, then move to more advanced courses on building custom GPTs and agents.
    Melissa Daimler, Forbes.com, 7 July 2025
Adjective
  • Her somewhat implausible problem is that her bad feelings—her irritation, her boredom—never register as such because of her beauty, her wealth, and her pedigree; so great is her beauty that even her nastiest moods feel like a sunny glow to others.
    Claire Jarvis, New Yorker, 8 July 2025
  • But use kind humor, not nasty or deprecating humor.
    Davia Temin, Forbes.com, 6 July 2025
Adjective
  • Leavitt held up the note to reporters, which appeared to have been written by Trump using his signature black Sharpie.
    David Brennan, ABC News, 30 June 2025
  • And, in addition to versatile black or white, the range now includes 12 total color options, including vibrant red, blue, and hot pink.
    Alesandra Dubin, Travel + Leisure, 30 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Grotty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grotty. Accessed 16 Jul. 2025.

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