1
as in filthy
not clean
after playing outside, the kids came in grungy and in need of a good bath
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in dilapidated
showing signs of advanced wear and tear and neglect
even though this grungy sweatshirt is falling apart, it's still my favorite
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of grungy
While staples like Rudy’s, Welcome to the Johnsons and Sophie’s offer the purest form of dive bar — cash-only and grungy with cheap beer and shot deals — Romeo’s gives you the best of both worlds.
—
Kaitlyn Rosati, New York Daily News, 16 Apr. 2025
Angèle Angèle goes grungy with a leather coat and fishnet leggings with a black belt cinching her lavender look.
—Brendan Le, People.com, 6 May 2025
Along the way, the duo bicker, and bond, and encounter a host of interchangeable character actors who appear to have waited their entire career for the chance to appear in a grungy Western.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 2 May 2025
There seemed to be a split reaction from fans on social media as some wanted to hear the grungy track while others trusted Tyler’s vision.
—Michael Saponara, Billboard, 24 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for grungy
Kaitlyn Rosati, New York Daily News, 16 Apr. 2025
Angèle Angèle goes grungy with a leather coat and fishnet leggings with a black belt cinching her lavender look.
—Brendan Le, People.com, 6 May 2025
Along the way, the duo bicker, and bond, and encounter a host of interchangeable character actors who appear to have waited their entire career for the chance to appear in a grungy Western.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 2 May 2025
There seemed to be a split reaction from fans on social media as some wanted to hear the grungy track while others trusted Tyler’s vision.
—Michael Saponara, Billboard, 24 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for grungy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grungy
Adjective
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Troubled Factories: The medications came mostly from plants in India where inspectors found contaminated drugs, filthy labs and falsified records.—
Debbie Cenziper,
ProPublica,
17 June 2025
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The next year, his fame reached a new echelon after the release of Pumping Iron, a docudrama that highlighted Schwarzenegger's strange charisma and filthy sense of humor.—
Randall Colburn,
EW.com,
12 June 2025
Adjective
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Elsewhere, though, anxiety permeates the dilapidated bars, karaoke clubs, and music halls into which Jia pokes his camera.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
2 May 2025
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In Los Angeles, $500,000 gets you a dilapidated hut in the hood with a permanent police siren soundtrack.—
Rafael Perez,
Oc Register,
30 May 2025
Adjective
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This record is a gentle correction for listeners who think of blues as either dusty or loud.—
Philip Martin,
Arkansas Online,
19 June 2025
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Workers in overalls walk down dusty streets that turn into dusty tracks before petering out to nowhere.—
Kim Hjelmgaard,
USA Today,
14 June 2025
Adjective
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What’s a neglected part of your ME—your health, learning, or joy?—
Nell Derick Debevoise,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
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But the area where these cuts will be felt most acutely is with respect to elder abuse, which is already a neglected area of health care and social services.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Apr. 2025
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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Washing Machine Cleaner Your clothes aren’t the only things that get dirty in the laundry room.—
Lauren David,
Southern Living,
13 June 2025
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The effort is big business with organized, managed, paid people doing the dirty work.—
Carolyn Rosenblatt,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2025
Adjective
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On my last trip to Crans-Montana, Switzerland, having a bag that could be easily cleaned was crucial after hiking, running, and cycling in the muddy woods.—
Michelle Tchea,
Travel + Leisure,
10 June 2025
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My feet sink into the muddy ground, wet soaking through my leather boots and sweat pooling under my arms and behind my knees.—
Erica Stern
June 9,
Literary Hub,
9 June 2025
Adjective
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The black coffee and ablutions came promptly at 3: 30 a.m. each morning, followed by a toe-curling breakfast.—
Nash Buckingham,
Outdoor Life,
19 June 2025
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He is described as 5 feet, 8 inches tall, with black hair and brown eyes and weighing 190 pounds.—
Khaleda Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Grungy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grungy. Accessed 27 Jun. 2025.
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