1
as in filthy
not clean
clean off those grubby hands before you touch anything
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
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 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
-
The president had complained about filthy water and a leaking foundation, according to previous USA TODAY reporting.—
Michelle Del Rey,
USA Today,
3 June 2026
-
And some of the best evidence of the lovebugs’ comeback came last week at the Turkey Lake Service Plaza on Florida’s Turnpike, where filthy, splattered cars and trucks queued up before the plaza’s automatic windshield washer.—
Martin E. Comas,
The Orlando Sentinel,
27 May 2026
Adjective
-
My father was running the skid steer outside, clearing the snow, leaving dirty white mounds to either side of the driveway that led from the house out to the range road.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 June 2026
-
Workers have told us that even wiping sweat from their face can be criticized because supervisors worry about the garment getting dirty.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Footwear News,
2 June 2026
Adjective
-
If that bottle hiding in the back of your bar cart is dusty and doesn't taste the same, buy a fresh one.—
Kait Hanson,
Southern Living,
29 May 2026
-
The shoes also come in a range of standout colorways, including an electric orange-and-blue combo and an off-white-and-dusty-gray pair.—
Annie Blackman,
InStyle,
29 May 2026
Adjective
-
Strained by tighter budgets and product price increases, more shoppers are willing to ditch their favorite brand for a cheaper alternative, a new study finds.—
Betty Lin-Fisher,
USA Today,
29 May 2026
-
The simpler, cheaper, more snow-friendly autonomous driving hardware is welcome, too.—
Andrew Nusca,
Fortune,
29 May 2026
Adjective
-
The Or Foundation estimates that roughly 15 million castoff garments from Canada, China, the United States, the United Kingdom and the European Union enter the market weekly, and about 40 percent leave as waste because they are torn, stained or otherwise too damaged to resell.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Footwear News,
28 May 2026
-
The light, filtered through stained glass, shifts the mood from one side of the basilica to the other.—
David Nikel,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
Adjective
-
The Browns are clearly in rebuild mode, with 2026 expected to be a lame-duck season at quarterback with Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders vying for the starting job for a season before the team uses the 2027 draft to select its latest quarterback of the future.—
Jim Reineking,
USA Today,
2 June 2026
-
Initially blocked by recalcitrant Democratic members of the House, the legislation was reintroduced during a lame-duck session following the 2024 election.—
Andrew Cockburn,
Harpers Magazine,
2 June 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
-
Chilling moments like this are the lifeblood of The Dreamed Adventure, the moments that recall the pitiful last days of the dying communist era and the violent, mafia-style economics that whooshed in to replace them.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
22 May 2026
-
There’s a mentality problem — that’s highlighted by a pitiful return of just one point out of a possible 24 away from home this season against teams in the top nine.—
James Pearce,
New York Times,
16 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Grubby.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grubby. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
