1
as in filthy
not clean
clean off those grubby hands before you touch anything
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in dirty
arousing or deserving of one's loathing and disgust
that's a grubby reason to stop talking to a friend
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of grubby
Despite the grim proceedings and grubby environment, the spatial arrangement of the image brings to mind a theatre balcony packed with eager punters ready to consume their money’s worth of entertainment.
—
Naomi Fry, The New Yorker, 22 Feb. 2025
Unbrushed hair and slightly grubby sweatshirt?
—Claire Cohen, Vogue, 9 Feb. 2025
With a few strokes of JFK’s pen, the NFL was effectively granted an exemption to the Sherman Antitrust Act and college football could rest easy knowing that the pros wouldn’t be allowed to get their grubby meat hooks on Saturdays in autumn.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 20 Dec. 2024
Continue reading … ROYAL RIFT – King Charles haunted by Prince Andrew as 'grubby' duke humiliates monarchy again.
—Fox News, 18 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for grubby
Naomi Fry, The New Yorker, 22 Feb. 2025
Unbrushed hair and slightly grubby sweatshirt?
—Claire Cohen, Vogue, 9 Feb. 2025
With a few strokes of JFK’s pen, the NFL was effectively granted an exemption to the Sherman Antitrust Act and college football could rest easy knowing that the pros wouldn’t be allowed to get their grubby meat hooks on Saturdays in autumn.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 20 Dec. 2024
Continue reading … ROYAL RIFT – King Charles haunted by Prince Andrew as 'grubby' duke humiliates monarchy again.
—Fox News, 18 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for grubby
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grubby
Adjective
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The law specifically spells out heating problems, pest infestations and filthy conditions as among the issues that could require a court’s intervention.—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
30 May 2025
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Detectives have criminally charged the owner of nearly 50 Belgian Malinois dogs that were found trapped together in a cramped, filthy Queens apartment, police said Wednesday.—
Thomas Tracy,
New York Daily News,
14 May 2025
Adjective
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Martin Kove as John Kreese Martin Kove played John Kreese, Johnny's karate mentor, who encourages his students to play dirty and harass Daniel.—
Keith Langston,
People.com,
1 June 2025
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The infant was scheduled to be cremated, according to the release, but the body was accidentally taken to Shreveport with a load of dirty linens.—
Harriet Ramos,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
30 May 2025
Adjective
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If soil clumps fall apart between your fingers or the texture is dusty, the soil is too dry and more water is needed.—
Heather Zidack,
Hartford Courant,
7 June 2025
-
That might be your pet-friendly home, a dusty 3D printer, or a social media obsession.—
Lien De Pau,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2025
Adjective
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One possible option is a center or third lane with curbs that would require less land to be acquired and be cheaper.—
Michelle Mullins,
Chicago Tribune,
2 June 2025
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And even as the price tags continue to rise, there is an argument to be made that NWSL teams remain cheap.—
Brett Knight,
Forbes.com,
2 June 2025
Adjective
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As holidays go, however, Flag Day can feel a bit lame.—
Kevin Fisher-Paulson,
San Francisco Chronicle,
8 June 2021
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My 11-year-old loved watching the pups roll balls and play a giant floor piano, but for non-dog owners (guilty as charged), parts of the series—like dressing dogs in little hats and outfits for a Parisian fashion show—feel lame.—
Tim Neville,
Outside Online,
23 Nov. 2020
Adjective
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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
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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
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For better or worse, high-end eco-resorts of this type tend to focus on hyper-local ingredients often grown in a pitiful little garden behind the kitchen.—
Christopher Cameron,
Robb Report,
30 May 2025
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From ’01 to ’20, the Knicks played in only 30 postseason games, posting a pitiful 9-21 record.—
Rohan Nadkarni,
NBC news,
18 May 2025
Adjective
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So Far The game’s two trailers poke fun at many Florida-isms with insane characters like the dual hammer-wielding woman, a sunburned man watering his lawn in a speedo, and spring breakers and locals partying heavily by posh pools and muddy monster truck rallies.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
26 May 2025
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The ports had to invent themselves in the first place, out of muddy marshes and shallows, to become the present-day enterprises doing billions of dollars of business and compete and partner with the massive Asian container ports across the Pacific.—
Patt Morrison,
Los Angeles Times,
24 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Grubby.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grubby. Accessed 14 Jun. 2025.
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