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 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 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 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
  • On the other end, Ja’Marr Chase is coming off an absolutely filthy touchdown grab last Sunday.
    Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
  • For collaborating with British officers while on parole, he was transferred to solitary confinement in a filthy cell.
    Stacy Schiff, The Atlantic, 8 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Just past the cattle-ranching town of Bridgeport in northern California, near the border of Nevada, this deserted mining community is frozen in time along its dusty desert road.
    Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 18 Oct. 2025
  • The fan grates in the walk-in cooler were dusty, and the walk-in freezer evaporator lacked part covers.
    Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The stained glass traces a hierarchy from the current dean to the Crown and then to God.
    Rick Burton, Sportico.com, 6 Oct. 2025
  • Wood stained baseboards may need a gentler cleaning approach, such as Murphy’s Oil Soap, to protect the finish.
    Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Normal gasoline is clean, while bad gas often has a darker, muddier appearance.
    Kamron Sanders, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Oct. 2025
  • Crews worked Thursday to fix muddy areas and Saturday’s races ran on time.
    Steve Fryer, Oc Register, 18 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The land, unfenced, abuts a bald blackened hillside that must be public land.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Aug. 2025
  • 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
Adjective
  • And the result at the end of the day is a truly grotesque dirty water container, which does feel like a job well done.
    Loz Blain October 14, New Atlas, 14 Oct. 2025
  • Trump is suing his Wall Street Journal for reporting about his dirty doodle to Jeffrey Epstein.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The Twits are so gross and puerile and nasty in the book.
    Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 17 Oct. 2025
  • New York, though, has a nasty triumvirate in Carter, Thibodeaux and Brian Burns, the last of whom is having an early career year with seven sacks.
    Luca Evans, Denver Post, 17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • According to the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), Eastern black rhinos are critically endangered.
    Nicholas Rice, PEOPLE, 20 Oct. 2025
  • Then stylist Jared Eng looked past Paris, and to Madrid, to pull a black cut-out Carolina Herrera gown for Joey King.
    Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 19 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Grotty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grotty. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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