grotty

adjective

ˈgrä-tē How to pronounce grotty (audio)
Definition of grottynext
chiefly British
as in filthy
not clean get rid of that grotty old rag

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 grotty Up until this point, Clive had made peace with frequenting London’s comedy clubs and grotty basements. — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 10 May 2026 The grotty tenements of the Lower East Side — and the distinct fashion within — is as much of a character in A24’s drama as the eponymous ping pong player himself. — Anna Tingley, Variety, 27 Dec. 2025 Conners in the just-grotty-enough camp classic Showgirls; or Pamela The Last Showgirl Anderson. — Raven Smith, Vogue, 14 Aug. 2025 The show, which chronicled two spiraling roommates in a grotty London flat who invariably do exactly the wrong thing, is not for the faint of heart. — Natasha Frost, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2025 The assault took place on the grottiest of vessels, manned by violent criminals who had been banished into deep space. — Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 28 Feb. 2025 In a stark contrast to its predecessor, the pop star’s EP tracks chronicled the sordid and grotty bits of celebrity. — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 19 Feb. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grotty
  1. filthy
  2. dusty
  3. stained
  4. muddy
  5. blackened
  6. dirty
  7. nasty
  8. black
Adjective
  • Dozens of people had spent almost a year living outside, filthy and exhausted, and for what?
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 July 2026
  • From shabby apartments to art experiments to filthy needles—with echoes of Patti Smith and Rebecca Makkai—Adler conjures an era of sorrow borne by too many, too young.
    — Hamilton Cain, Time, 7 July 2026
Definition of filthy
Adjective
  • The trend intelligence platform said mentions of dusty rose, ecru and gray denim are climbing among key influencers.
    — Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 29 July 2026
  • This soft brown lumbar pillow comes with a dusty teal border that makes the aster print pop.
    — Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 July 2026
Definition of dusty
Adjective
  • Cover the stained area with the paste, and rub it in with a sponge.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 19 July 2026
  • Victorian mansions that survived great storms and eras of change take up whole blocks, colossal buildings with stained glass windows and towering turrets.
    — Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 15 July 2026
Definition of stained
Adjective
  • Heavy rainfall continued to impact Lollapalooza on Saturday, as doors were delayed opening until 2pm, and guests were advised to wear waterproof shoes as Grant Park would be muddy.
    — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 1 Aug. 2026
  • The Athletic’s reporting and the ensuing federal investigation have clarified what initially looked like a muddy picture.
    — Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 28 July 2026
Definition of muddy
Adjective
  • The land, unfenced, abuts a bald blackened hillside that must be public land.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Aug. 2025
Definition of blackened
Adjective
  • Stuck behind Piastri for the first and second race stints, Norris felt his pace was being compromised by dirty air — the wake from one car that causes a loss in downforce and worse handling for one following closely — coming off his teammate’s car.
    — Luke Smith, New York Times, 27 July 2026
  • The dirty vegan takes a different kick, with kale noodles in a savory, creamy vegan broth topped with corn, steamed tofu, rolled tofu skin, sliced green onions and seasonal vegetables.
    — Justin Brown, AJC.com, 26 July 2026
Definition of dirty
Adjective
  • Katherine MacGregor Katherine MacGregor played nasty gossip Harriet Oleson on the show.
    — Brie Stimson, FOXNews.com, 26 July 2026
  • And with peak travel season underway, millions of people may have to contend with this disorienting condition, which can cause sleep disturbances, daytime tiredness, headaches and nasty gastrointestinal symptoms.
    — Laura Ungar, Chicago Tribune, 25 July 2026
Definition of nasty
Adjective
  • This month biologists at the University of Vermont reported in Nature that the black melanoma is contagious, the tumor cells themselves passing from one fish to the next.
    — John Drake, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
  • Contemporary playgrounds and schoolyards are often designed with minimal shade and artificial materials, like black rubber, concrete and aluminum, that can reach dangerously high surface temperatures when sun-exposed.
    — The Conversation, Fortune, 27 July 2026
Definition of black

Browse Nearby Words

grottoes
grotty
grouch
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Cite this Entry

“Grotty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grotty. Accessed 4 Aug. 2026.

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