SCUMMY Synonyms: 79 Similar and Opposite Words

scummy

adjective

Definition of scummy

as in dirty

arousing or deserving of one's loathing and disgust the jury was disgusted by the scummy behavior of the defendant in the courtroom

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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 scummy The Hapsburg Inspector General, the equivalent of the food inspector darkening the doorway of a scummy restaurant? — Diana Arterian, Literary Hub, 16 July 2026 Clean outdoor water features with vinegar or other fungus-fighting ingredients to help prevent water from getting scummy. — The Spruce, 2 July 2026 Dane DeHaan excels as Cole, a scummy hacker who makes a living draining bank accounts. — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 27 June 2026 The wild sci-fi elements, such as scummy aliens and wacky monsters, will likely remind audiences of a Marvel effort, namely Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy movies. — David Sims, The Atlantic, 26 June 2026 Does that kind of discourse-friendly success override the fact that Euphoria is too young, too scummy, and too dumb to fit into the usual Emmy pattern? — Joe Reid, Vulture, 2 May 2026 Clean Glass Shower Doors Melt about half a cup of coconut oil and mix in a few drops of lemon juice to create a solution that will go to work on scummy glass shower doors and walls. — Patricia Shannon, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Mar. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for scummy

Adjective

Some of the booths included food businesses including bakeries and lemonade stands and a dirty soda booth.

— David Sharos, Chicago Tribune, 3 Aug. 2026
Now condemned and boarded up, cordoned off by sagging tape, dirty roll-up door set to adorn the front pages of tomorrow’s papers.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of dirty

Adjective

The jokes are still wildly scattershot and frequently, knowingly lame; the production is still cheap and cheerfully scrappy; the whole ragged enterprise is still reliant on the evident affection and chemistry between its players to hold it together.

— Guy Lodge, Variety, 5 Aug. 2026
A couple solid set-pieces, a lame evil corporate villain, a limp Act 1 origin story, and the perfect scene where Pepper performs open-heart surgery on Tony complete the picture.

— EW Staff, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of lame

Adjective

Completing the hat trick in pitiful style, Taking on the World was shot on a shoestring budget, helmed by the man behind Highlander III, and forced to rely on stock footage of real-life footballers.

— Jon O'Brien, Vulture, 26 June 2026
Given the national team’s pitiful demise at the Oval, with New Zealand completing victory on the fifth morning, Ben Stokes’ revival in absentia feels like the only consolation from a miserable week.

— Hector Vickers, New York Times, 21 June 2026

Definition of pitiful

Adjective

Under its guidance, untold hectares of nasty greenery have succumbed to billions of dollars in herbicide.

— Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026
The schedule is nasty, too, with the Wolverines’ first five Power 4 opponents all capable of winning nine or more games this year.

— Scott Dochterman, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of nasty

Adjective

The left's most hated author — JK Rowling — has dropped the hammer on the disgusting things that took place at the Indiana Fever-Seattle Storm game earlier this week.

— Zach Dean OutKick, FOXNews.com, 30 July 2026
Or when some man behaving like a degenerate gambler plods into Chelsea Gray’s DMs with a disgusting slur.

— Candace Buckner, New York Times, 27 July 2026

Definition of disgusting

Adjective

Hashimi’s tale of unflagging effort amid wretched inequality astounds.

— Monitor reviewers, Christian Science Monitor, 23 July 2026
Sixteen children from the same family who were rescued from a dilapidated home in rural Ohio were living in wretched conditions with human waste all around, confined to just one room over much of the past four years, authorities said.

— CBS News, CBS News, 1 July 2026

Definition of wretched

Browse Nearby Words

scumbags

scummy

scums

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“Scummy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scummy. Accessed 6 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of scummy

adjective

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