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shabby

adjective

ˈsha-bē How to pronounce shabby (audio)
Definition of shabbynext
1
as in dilapidated
showing signs of advanced wear and tear and neglect shabby wallpaper that was peeling from the walls

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in tattered
worn or torn into or as if into rags shabby, stained clothes that are barely better than rags

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 shabby Not too shabby—and the Transparency mode also sounded quite natural! — Kelsey Fogarty, PC Magazine, 19 Aug. 2026 Gardeners occasionally have trouble with boxwood foliage turning brown—making this otherwise beautiful shrub look a little shabby and worn. — Samantha Johnson, Martha Stewart, 5 Aug. 2026 Willian, another player listed in the disciplinary charges, wasn’t too shabby, either. — Daniel Taylor, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2026 Thompson secured council permission before raising the funds to turn the shelter from shabby to chic. — Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 26 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for shabby
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shabby
  1. dilapidated
  2. tattered
  3. neglected
  4. ragged
  5. faded
Adjective
  • The developer would tear down and renovate some of the dilapidated affordable units.
    — Desiree Mathurin, Charlotte Observer, 9 Sep. 2026
  • But neighbors call him when trash is not picked up or a dilapidated property becomes a problem.
    — Harry Bruinius, Christian Science Monitor, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of dilapidated
Adjective
  • The tattered cypresses and long-needle pines damp out the shine of her tracksuit, closing swiftly around dog and girl.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2026
  • On a recent afternoon, the lanky, mustachioed Zucker, wearing a T-shirt, ballcap and small hoop earrings, bears little resemblance to his comic alter ego who sports a tattered suit with gag props stuffed in every pocket.
    — Deputy Entertainment, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of tattered
Adjective
  • Investors and analysts are increasingly looking to other parts of the market, both to find neglected sources of value and to start assuming a defensive posture against a possible downturn.
    — Tobias Burns, CNBC, 16 July 2026
  • Changing their environment is more reliable and more neglected.
    — Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026
Definition of neglected
Adjective
  • Their accomplices — played by Garret Dillahunt and Danielle Macdonald, among others — are mostly figures of fun, granted limited personality and motivation, as the film increasingly stages their doomed venture as ragged farce.
    — Guy Lodge, Variety, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Villa were ragged and lacked rhythm, with Emery still in the early stages of figuring out his new-look side.
    — Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of ragged
Adjective
  • The quasi-patriotic palette got contemporary edge from faded lines running through the red and dark navy stripes, which shifted between vertical and horizontal directions.
    — Julia Teti, Footwear News, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Choose between four wearable shades—a dark indigo, a medium-light blue, a super faded light wash, and black.
    — Jordan Julian, InStyle, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of faded

Browse Nearby Words

shabbily
shabby
shack
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Cite this Entry

“Shabby.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shabby. Accessed 24 Sep. 2026.

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