1
as in filthy
not clean
clean off those grubby hands before you touch anything
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of grubby
Stroheim, who shot on location, delivers a grungy and grubby story, his fanatical eye for grim detail producing a portrait of ordinary misery that assumes symbolic force.
—
Richard Brody, New Yorker, 17 Jan. 2026
Yet its misguided grubby reputation is being peeled away to reveal the wealth of cultural and culinary treats.
—Duncan Madden, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026
Welcome to the grubby reality of international diplomacy!
—Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 30 Dec. 2025
To clean a really grubby baseboard, use a cloth and soapy water to remove dirt and stains.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 20 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for grubby
Richard Brody, New Yorker, 17 Jan. 2026
Yet its misguided grubby reputation is being peeled away to reveal the wealth of cultural and culinary treats.
—Duncan Madden, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026
Welcome to the grubby reality of international diplomacy!
—Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 30 Dec. 2025
To clean a really grubby baseboard, use a cloth and soapy water to remove dirt and stains.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 20 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for grubby
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grubby
Adjective
-
Then downstairs in the filthy little basement, where there's the stone butt carved into the wall, people knew exactly what to do.—
Matt Ortile,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 May 2026
-
Strong supports the closing of Men’s Central Jail and said the department needed to look at medical care, filthy living conditions and a lack of healthy food and clean water.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2026
Adjective
-
The drinks attract younger women, typically age 16 to 35, and are aimed at health-conscious customers that don’t want Swig’s more caloric and filling dirty sodas, CEO Alex Dunn said.—
Jordan Valinsky,
CNN Money,
28 Apr. 2026
-
That wasn’t the only utensil stored in a dirty place.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Two people were killed and two others injured when two vehicles collided head-on Friday evening along a dusty, deserted stretch of road in the Antelope Valley, authorities said.—
Andrew Khouri,
Los Angeles Times,
10 May 2026
-
From rich red ‘Valentine’ to nearly orange ‘Sungold’ and the dusty plum of ‘Purple Bumble Bee,’ cherry tomatoes add instant color to a plate.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 May 2026
Adjective
-
Cars were exciting, efficient, and relatively cheap.—
Oren Peleg,
New Yorker,
9 May 2026
-
Its aggressive marketing strategy persuades users to buy a vast range of items at cheaper prices.—
Alexander Onukwue,
semafor.com,
8 May 2026
Adjective
-
Wet the stained area with water, dab it with rubbing alcohol, and blot the carpet.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
5 May 2026
-
That might mean a heavy-duty old-school wooden door with a stained finish or a high-gloss paint color that stands out from the street.—
Amy Panos,
Better Homes & Gardens,
3 May 2026
Adjective
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And getting all giddy over some lame light beer that has apple juice poured into to is just plain embarrassing.—
Zach Dean OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
24 Apr. 2026
-
This idea that just sitting with your face buried in your phone when you’re supposed to be in a social setting—that’s lame, right?—
Charlie Warzel,
The Atlantic,
24 Apr. 2026
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
-
Will the harsh weather mean poor growth and pitiful harvests?—
Gemma Johnstone,
The Spruce,
8 May 2026
-
Written as a response to the utopian fiction that consumed Russia’s intelligentsia at the time, Notes from Underground is a mirror that reflects the ugliest, most pitiful aspects of humanity back at us.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Grubby.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grubby. Accessed 12 May. 2026.
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