1
as in dilapidated
showing signs of advanced wear and tear and neglect
shabby wallpaper that was peeling from the walls
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in tattered
worn or torn into or as if into rags
shabby, stained clothes that are barely better than rags
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shabby
Not too shabby for a pair of undergraduate students.
—
Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 12 Mar. 2026
But Handley loves them for their shabby chic, rustic charm.
—Alexandra Kelly, Martha Stewart, 11 Mar. 2026
On Bleecker Street, between Elizabeth and the Bowery, a shabby storefront, painted murky green, was once a destination for generations of photographers who had learned their trade by poring over the off-kilter images of Robert Frank.
—Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 10 Mar. 2026
Not too shabby for a fish camp cook.
—Robert F. Moss, Southern Living, 9 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shabby
Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 12 Mar. 2026
But Handley loves them for their shabby chic, rustic charm.
—Alexandra Kelly, Martha Stewart, 11 Mar. 2026
On Bleecker Street, between Elizabeth and the Bowery, a shabby storefront, painted murky green, was once a destination for generations of photographers who had learned their trade by poring over the off-kilter images of Robert Frank.
—Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 10 Mar. 2026
Not too shabby for a fish camp cook.
—Robert F. Moss, Southern Living, 9 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shabby
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shabby
Adjective
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The state Department of Corrections is in strikingly similar dire straits with dilapidated prisons and a decreasing number of COs.—
Steve Zeidman,
New York Daily News,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Ross saved the Miami Open, moving it from a dilapidated Key Biscayne venue, and retrofitting Hard Rock Stadium’s grounds for it.—
Omar Kelly,
Miami Herald,
24 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Repairing the agency’s tattered credibility The CDC has long been the world’s pre-eminent public health agency.—
Helen Branswell,
STAT,
30 Mar. 2026
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But there’s a certain magic in the tattered, the torn, and the un-trashable gear in our closets.—
The Editors,
Outside,
18 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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When first performed at L.A. Opera a decade ago, the lavish production, co-produced with English National Opera, helped recover a neglected opera.—
Classical Music Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
-
His refusal to weaponize suffering is one of his most important — and most neglected— lessons.—
Ed Gaskin,
Boston Herald,
15 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Rustan picked Sugar up as a rescue from the streets of Los Angeles, the small pooch missing three of her bottom teeth and in ragged shape.—
Laylan Connelly,
Oc Register,
30 Mar. 2026
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Getting the right amount of quality sleep can have huge health benefits, while getting poor sleep — or not enough — could leave you running ragged.—
Wakisha Bailey,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Actress Letitia Wright attended a Prada event in a faded denim and leather jacket.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
31 Mar. 2026
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That fall, an old friend reached out to my father through the underground communications network, dialling a number printed on a faded piece of plastic Dymo tape and speaking to him from a public phone booth.—
Zayd Ayers Dohrn,
New Yorker,
28 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shabby.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shabby. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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