1
as in filthy
not clean
clean off those grubby hands before you touch anything
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in dirty
arousing or deserving of one's loathing and disgust
that's a grubby reason to stop talking to a friend
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 grubby
Unbrushed hair and slightly grubby sweatshirt?
—
Claire Cohen, Vogue, 9 Feb. 2025
With a few strokes of JFK’s pen, the NFL was effectively granted an exemption to the Sherman Antitrust Act and college football could rest easy knowing that the pros wouldn’t be allowed to get their grubby meat hooks on Saturdays in autumn.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 20 Dec. 2024
Continue reading … ROYAL RIFT – King Charles haunted by Prince Andrew as 'grubby' duke humiliates monarchy again.
—Fox News, 18 Dec. 2024
Players use spellbook-style molds to make little grubby monster pieces to fight against each other in the game.
—Rob Wieland, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for grubby
Claire Cohen, Vogue, 9 Feb. 2025
With a few strokes of JFK’s pen, the NFL was effectively granted an exemption to the Sherman Antitrust Act and college football could rest easy knowing that the pros wouldn’t be allowed to get their grubby meat hooks on Saturdays in autumn.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 20 Dec. 2024
Continue reading … ROYAL RIFT – King Charles haunted by Prince Andrew as 'grubby' duke humiliates monarchy again.
—Fox News, 18 Dec. 2024
Players use spellbook-style molds to make little grubby monster pieces to fight against each other in the game.
—Rob Wieland, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for grubby
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grubby
Adjective
-
At least 12 outside experts submitted testimony in what’s called the Dunsmore case, finding that San Diego jails are filthy and that workers regularly fail to follow best practices or department policies.—
Jeff McDonald,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 May 2025
-
So The Righteous Gemstones went with the sentimental ending — or at least what counts for a sentimental ending in a series so committed to the filthiest possible turns of phrase.—
Scott Tobias,
Vulture,
5 May 2025
Adjective
-
Airplane tray tables, seatbelt buckles and armrests are known to be among the dirtiest surfaces onboard.—
Isabelle Rodney,
CNN Money,
20 May 2025
-
No filmmaker loves the dirty old town that is New York more than Spike Lee.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
20 May 2025
Adjective
-
Everything from the mortar to the rope has been handmade on the dusty site.—
Rachel Howard,
Travel + Leisure,
13 May 2025
-
The days of my girlhood were dusty, dirty, sooty, and sweaty.—
Maureen Lee Lenker,
EW.com,
13 May 2025
Adjective
-
These technologies could be safer, cheaper, and offer higher energy storage.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
21 May 2025
-
All around the city are free and cheap concerts and events that anyone can sit back and enjoy.—
Joseph Hernandez,
Kansas City Star,
21 May 2025
Adjective
-
As holidays go, however, Flag Day can feel a bit lame.—
Kevin Fisher-Paulson,
San Francisco Chronicle,
8 June 2021
-
My 11-year-old loved watching the pups roll balls and play a giant floor piano, but for non-dog owners (guilty as charged), parts of the series—like dressing dogs in little hats and outfits for a Parisian fashion show—feel lame.—
Tim Neville,
Outside Online,
23 Nov. 2020
Adjective
-
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
-
There are no glamorous furnishings — just a French window, its blackened panes suggesting the dark of night.—
Christopher Knight,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Oct. 2022
Adjective
-
But the rates were pitiful: $9.87 for a 13-mile trip, $19.97 for a 25-mile trip and so on.—
Eli Tan,
New York Times,
14 May 2025
-
Israel’s performance in climate mitigation, moving to renewable energies, is pitiful — just 12% when some countries are 70%.—
JTA Staff Report,
Sun Sentinel,
5 May 2025
Adjective
-
The three-year-old thoroughbred finished ahead of 18 other horses on a muddy track at Churchill Downs Racetrack on May 3 but will not be looking to repeat the feat at the Pimlico Race Course on Saturday.—
Ben Church,
CNN Money,
17 May 2025
-
Matches were crude and violent and played on muddy pitches.—
Pablo Maurer,
New York Times,
16 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Grubby.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grubby. Accessed 27 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share