1
as in filthy
not clean
after playing outside, the kids came in grungy and in need of a good bath
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
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 grungy
Styling a short-sleeve over a long-sleeve feels grungy and laid-back.
—
Kelsey Stiegman, Glamour, 27 Mar. 2026
But the Tarantino fetish becomes so pronounced in Russian writer-director Kirill Sokolov’s addition to the grungy revenge-thriller that every quick zoom and shock-cinema score cue starts to feel less like an adrenaline spike and more like a rib nudge.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 26 Mar. 2026
In a grungy space off Main Street, Liquid Diet’s mindbending cocktails evoke flavors of grocery store items like chocolate chip banana bread and bell peppers.
—Roger Kisby, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2026
Black washes with grungy tints were part of Elena Velez’s range of jeans and asymmetrical skirts.
—Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for grungy
Kelsey Stiegman, Glamour, 27 Mar. 2026
But the Tarantino fetish becomes so pronounced in Russian writer-director Kirill Sokolov’s addition to the grungy revenge-thriller that every quick zoom and shock-cinema score cue starts to feel less like an adrenaline spike and more like a rib nudge.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 26 Mar. 2026
In a grungy space off Main Street, Liquid Diet’s mindbending cocktails evoke flavors of grocery store items like chocolate chip banana bread and bell peppers.
—Roger Kisby, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2026
Black washes with grungy tints were part of Elena Velez’s range of jeans and asymmetrical skirts.
—Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for grungy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grungy
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
-
Zaragoza stationed his men on the high ground, hidden behind cacti, behind walls of dilapidated forts, in ditches.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
4 May 2026
-
Longtime Oak Lawn Village Board member Timothy Desmond has resigned from his post to enter into a contract with the village through his home building company to restore dilapidated properties, with the goal of putting them back on the tax rolls.—
Olivia Stevens,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
There are no fine hats or seersucker here; just dusty boots and blue jeans, the million-dollar trainers no fancier than their workers.—
Kyle Feldscher,
CNN Money,
2 May 2026
-
Inside these massive, dusty, and gas-rich regions, the same series of events always occurs.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Cinematographer Guillermo Garza shoots neglected settings like fine art, embracing the grime.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Apr. 2026
-
An El Segundo father says that he was arrested in early March for taking matters into his own hands by installing stop signs and repainting a neglected and dangerous intersection.—
Jasmine Viel,
CBS News,
25 Mar. 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
-
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
-
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
-
During a recent visit by Fortune, Haushalter trudged through her muddy post-rain fields in high rubber boots.—
Sharon Goldman,
Fortune,
6 May 2026
-
Old hellebore varieties didn't generate much excitement with their muddy-colored blooms that turned their faces to the soil, but newer cultivars are bigger and brighter.—
Jamie McIntosh,
The Spruce,
5 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Grungy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grungy. Accessed 9 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
