GROTTY Synonyms: 112 Similar and Opposite Words

grotty

adjective

ˈgrä-tē

Definition of grotty

chiefly British

as in filthy

not clean get rid of that grotty old rag

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 grotty Up until this point, Clive had made peace with frequenting London’s comedy clubs and grotty basements. — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 10 May 2026 The grotty tenements of the Lower East Side — and the distinct fashion within — is as much of a character in A24’s drama as the eponymous ping pong player himself. — Anna Tingley, Variety, 27 Dec. 2025 Conners in the just-grotty-enough camp classic Showgirls; or Pamela The Last Showgirl Anderson. — Raven Smith, Vogue, 14 Aug. 2025 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for grotty

Adjective

Being outdoors, they’re exposed to all sorts of dust, pollen, dirt, bird droppings, spider webs, leaves, sap, weather, and pollutants carried by the wind, which can leave a filthy coating on your shutters.

— Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 4 Aug. 2026
Cleaning our planet’s filthy ports could one day get a boost from a creature with a very messy nickname.

— Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 30 July 2026

Definition of filthy

Adjective

The popular set tends to sell quickly, so consider grabbing one while fall-favorite shades like dusty olive, terracotta, and mauve are still in stock.

— Better Homes & Gardens, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Aug. 2026
The wind is whistling through an enormous, dusty construction site, surrounded by highways, office towers and a sports arena.

— Maria Aspan, NPR, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of dusty

Adjective

Cover the stained area with the paste, and rub it in with a sponge.

— Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 19 July 2026
Victorian mansions that survived great storms and eras of change take up whole blocks, colossal buildings with stained glass windows and towering turrets.

— Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 15 July 2026

Definition of stained

Adjective

Some of the booths included food businesses including bakeries and lemonade stands and a dirty soda booth.

— David Sharos, Chicago Tribune, 3 Aug. 2026
Now condemned and boarded up, cordoned off by sagging tape, dirty roll-up door set to adorn the front pages of tomorrow’s papers.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of dirty

Adjective

Under its guidance, untold hectares of nasty greenery have succumbed to billions of dollars in herbicide.

— Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026
The schedule is nasty, too, with the Wolverines’ first five Power 4 opponents all capable of winning nine or more games this year.

— Scott Dochterman, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of nasty

Adjective

Each color features contrasting Oro Elios (gold) or Grigio Nimbus (silver) lower-body accents and wheels, along with Miura 60 branding, glosse black brake calipers, and matte black exhaust tips.

— Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 3 Aug. 2026
Style it with simple black trousers, luxe loafers, and a chic watch to keep things polished.

— Kelsey Stiegman, Glamour, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of black

Browse Nearby Words

grottoes

grotty

grouch

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Grotty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grotty. Accessed 11 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of grotty

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

baptism of fire

Popular in Grammar & Usage

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

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

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

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

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

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Aug. 7

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Games & Quizzes