rustier; rustiest
1
: affected by or as if by rust
especially
: stiff with or as if with rust
2
: inept and slow through lack of practice or old age
3
a
: of the color rust
b
: dulled in color or appearance by age and use
rusty old boots
4
: outmoded
Examples of rusty in a Sentence
Adjective (1)
rusty laws still on the books because no one bothered to repeal them
in a rusty voice the old man ordered us off his land
Recent Examples on the Web
Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 4 June 2025
When to Replace Hinges Old door hinges that are worn, rusty, bent, or otherwise damaged won’t support the weight and constant opening and closing of a door.
—Kamron Sanders, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 May 2025
Heiskanen looked rusty at times and was hardly his usual dominant self.
—Murat Ates, New York Times, 14 May 2025
This process scatters the shorter, bluer wavelengths of light, while allowing the longer, redder ones through, which can give the moon a yellow, or rusty hue.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 12 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for rusty
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Adjective
The pink or rusty red flower spikes are also quite pretty, especially set off against contrasting foliage.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 4 June 2025
When to Replace Hinges Old door hinges that are worn, rusty, bent, or otherwise damaged won’t support the weight and constant opening and closing of a door.
—Kamron Sanders, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 May 2025
Heiskanen looked rusty at times and was hardly his usual dominant self.
—Murat Ates, New York Times, 14 May 2025
This process scatters the shorter, bluer wavelengths of light, while allowing the longer, redder ones through, which can give the moon a yellow, or rusty hue.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 12 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for rusty
Cite this Entry
“Rusty.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rusty. Accessed 15 Jun. 2025.
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