dingy

adjective

din·​gy ˈdin-jē How to pronounce dingy (audio)
dingier; dingiest
1
: dirty, unclean
dingy fingernails
2
: shabby, squalid
a dingy hotel room
dingily adverb
dinginess noun

Examples of dingy in a Sentence

He's been staying in a dingy motel. the bed sheets were pretty dingy so we threw them in the laundry pile
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Here’s how to revive those dingy baseboards and bring back their color. Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 19 Sep. 2025 The couple spent 118 days — nearly four months — on their raft and dingy in the open water before they were rescued by chance by a passing Korean vessel. Susan Young, PEOPLE, 9 Sep. 2025 How to Hand-Wash a Silk Scarf If the care tag or a colorfastness test indicates that the scarf can be washed, hand-washing is a fast and easy way to clean a vintage scarf to remove stains, dingy buildup, and odors. Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Sep. 2025 Always look for bright, vibrant heads of lettuce and avoid brown spots or dingy yellow leaves. Lauren O'Connor, Health, 3 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for dingy

Word History

Etymology

origin unknown

First Known Use

1691, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of dingy was in 1691

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Dingy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dingy. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

dingy

adjective
din·​gy ˈdin-jē How to pronounce dingy (audio)
dingier; dingiest
: rather dark and dirty : not fresh or clean
a dingy room
dingy colors
dingily adverb
dinginess noun

More from Merriam-Webster on dingy

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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