as in dusty
severely lacking in cleanliness
My friend thinks that scuzzy dive bar has "character," but the smell alone is enough to keep me far away from that place.
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Recent Examples of scuzzy
Back in New York, following Marty’s unimaginable defeat in London, Abel Ferrara appears as a scuzzy street-level gangster who entrusts Marty and his taxi-driving best friend Wally (Tyler Okonma) with his near feral dog.
—
Peter Debruge, Variety, 1 Dec. 2025
Knight convincingly takes us back to the grimy, scuzzy streets of 1880s East London for a showdown in and out of the boxing ring.
—Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 20 Feb. 2025
Gorgeously textured and frequently very funny—Griffin’s wisecracking younger brother, Oren, is a scene-stealer—the book’s particular portrait of late-20th-century, upper-middle-class adolescence takes a generously wide angle, reveling in all the heady, scuzzy, confusing bits of coming of age.
—Vogue, 26 Dec. 2024
The safety curtain that greets audiences filing in for the third Broadway revival of Glengarry Glen Ross depicts a set of steak knives, the infamous second prize in a contest for the highest sales figures among colleagues at a scuzzy Chicago real estate office.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
See All Example Sentences for scuzzy
Peter Debruge, Variety, 1 Dec. 2025
Knight convincingly takes us back to the grimy, scuzzy streets of 1880s East London for a showdown in and out of the boxing ring.
—Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 20 Feb. 2025
Gorgeously textured and frequently very funny—Griffin’s wisecracking younger brother, Oren, is a scene-stealer—the book’s particular portrait of late-20th-century, upper-middle-class adolescence takes a generously wide angle, reveling in all the heady, scuzzy, confusing bits of coming of age.
—Vogue, 26 Dec. 2024
The safety curtain that greets audiences filing in for the third Broadway revival of Glengarry Glen Ross depicts a set of steak knives, the infamous second prize in a contest for the highest sales figures among colleagues at a scuzzy Chicago real estate office.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
See All Example Sentences for scuzzy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scuzzy
Adjective
-
Timeless wood pieces, plush armchairs and headboards, and earthy yet optimistic color palettes (think ivory, spring green, tawny brown, and bronze) are both serene and cozy, without feeling dusty or overly trendy.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
21 Feb. 2026
-
Further investigation with the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) whittled these galaxies down to 70 faint dusty galaxy candidates on the very edge of the cosmos, the majority of which had never been seen before.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
So open to the skies, and filthy.—
Lesley Stahl,
CBS News,
16 Feb. 2026
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This neighborhood, peopled almost entirely by the people who claim to have been driven from Poland and Russia, is the eyesore of New York and perhaps the filthiest place on the western continent.—
Alexandra Schwartz,
New Yorker,
9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Water Temperature Matters Using cold water to wash dishes is ineffective, potentially leaving a greasy film that traps food particles and bacteria.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
21 Feb. 2026
-
Here’s how to clean your air fryer with vinegar to finally get rid of that greasy residue.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
These include shrimp ceviche, lobster bisque, black mussels, truffle fries and a Caesar salad.—
Carlos Rico,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
17 Feb. 2026
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Mother of the bride Thurman was photographed in a gauzy light blue dress, and Ethan Hawke was in a navy blue suit paired with a black button-down.—
KiMi Robinson,
USA Today,
17 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Tan explained that there are still things people can do to protect themselves from the harms of dirty air.—
Dr. Ishani D. Premaratne,
ABC News,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Synthetic fibers like polyester can leave tiny scratches on the surface, and dirty cloths can cause micro scratches.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
17 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The land, unfenced, abuts a bald blackened hillside that must be public land.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Aug. 2025
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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
Adjective
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This spectacle, while sleazy and unsettling, was hardly a departure from the status quo.—
Annie Levin,
Washington Post,
10 Feb. 2026
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For an InstaCart ad directed by Spike Jonze, the Zoolander star and the jumpsuit-wearing flipper bust moves in Boone-ish getups for a sleazy, Italo-disco style music program.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Curtains that aren’t the exact correct size can be frustrating, letting in too much light and looking shabby.—
Lyssanoel Frater,
jsonline.com,
20 Feb. 2026
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The kicker is that not only are the two events in the same family, but all four newlyweds must share the same small, shabby government apartment afterwards.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
16 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Scuzzy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scuzzy. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.
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