1
as in filthy
not clean
after playing outside, the kids came in grungy and in need of a good bath
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in dilapidated
showing signs of advanced wear and tear and neglect
even though this grungy sweatshirt is falling apart, it's still my favorite
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of grungy
My father was also sullen from the vodka, and after grumbling some would fall asleep on his grungy sleeper berth.
—
Literary Hub, 23 Jan. 2026
Stroheim, who shot on location, delivers a grungy and grubby story, his fanatical eye for grim detail producing a portrait of ordinary misery that assumes symbolic force.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 17 Jan. 2026
The rest of her glam was pretty signature—grungy smoky eyes and a glossed nude lip, with a nude manicure to let her engagement ring take center stage.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 4 Jan. 2026
The track takes after some of her forebearers, specifically Hole’s Courtney Love and the harsh, grungy guitars from Live Through This.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 2 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for grungy
Literary Hub, 23 Jan. 2026
Stroheim, who shot on location, delivers a grungy and grubby story, his fanatical eye for grim detail producing a portrait of ordinary misery that assumes symbolic force.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 17 Jan. 2026
The rest of her glam was pretty signature—grungy smoky eyes and a glossed nude lip, with a nude manicure to let her engagement ring take center stage.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 4 Jan. 2026
The track takes after some of her forebearers, specifically Hole’s Courtney Love and the harsh, grungy guitars from Live Through This.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 2 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for grungy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grungy
Adjective
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This neighborhood, peopled almost entirely by the people who claim to have been driven from Poland and Russia, is the eyesore of New York and perhaps the filthiest place on the western continent.—
Alexandra Schwartz,
New Yorker,
9 Feb. 2026
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Rodents, roaches, flies and knives stored in filthy places were among the myriad violations on this week’s Sick and Shut Down List of South Florida restaurants that failed state inspection.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The project was planned to clear the area of outdated and dilapidated buildings, to attract new businesses and promote economic revitalization.—
Jessica Alvarado Gamez,
Denver Post,
27 Jan. 2026
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The trip could also see China give the go-ahead for the UK to rebuild its dilapidated embassy in Beijing.—
Brendan Murray,
Bloomberg,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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This one, in a dusty olive green, has a high pile texture and subtle geometric design for the right amount of visual interest.—
Kate McGregor,
Architectural Digest,
13 Feb. 2026
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Mattresses and questionably clean bedding were dredged up, dusty couches cleared of detritus.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The department issued heavy fines and ultimately shuttered a neglected building in Denver’s uptown neighborhood last year that was owned by CBZ Management.—
Sam Tabachnik,
Denver Post,
8 Jan. 2026
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The narrative highlights the growing, unseen populations of lonely and neglected individuals, shedding light on a vital but often ignored aspect of public care.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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The land, unfenced, abuts a bald blackened hillside that must be public land.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Aug. 2025
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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
Adjective
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Yet, even as India remains wedded to the dirtiest fossil fuel, its coal consumption is roughly 40% of China’s at the same stage of development, Ember found.—
Laura Paddison,
CNN Money,
11 Feb. 2026
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Camperlab also experimented with bleaching, dirty tints and shades of pink.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The guest-only Chapel Club has a more plush, salon-like feel and there’s more than a hint of naughtiness with stained glass windows casting color onto the sensual artworks.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Jan. 2026
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How To Remove Types Of Mattress Stains Step-By-Step Vacuum the mattress and stained area.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
20 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The walk to the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena, which is hosting men’s and women’s competitions at the 2026 Olympic Games, is a muddy one.—
Sean Gregory,
Time,
4 Feb. 2026
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Once the ground is thawed enough to be worked with—but not oversaturated or muddy-feeling—use a rake or roller to try and even things back out.—
Nishaa Sharma,
The Spruce,
3 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Grungy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grungy. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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