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
Black Francis and Emma Richardson — who joined the band in 2024 — crooned the grungy, guitar heavy tune.
—
Nikki McCann Ramirez, Rolling Stone, 19 June 2025
Outsiders like Devon, on the other hand, are marked by their grungy combat boots, tattoos, and heavy eyeliner.
—Elise Taylor, Vogue, 23 May 2025
There was this beautiful, really fun, cheap, grungy rehearsal studio in Culver City called Exposition Studios.
—Michelle Woo, Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2025
Rothman shepherded Teitelbaum’s rebrand, helping to realign her sound in a way that more authentically reflected her taste — retaining the dark tint of her Baum output, but grounding it in grungy live instruments instead of synths.
—Olivia Horn, New York Times, 29 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for grungy
Nikki McCann Ramirez, Rolling Stone, 19 June 2025
Outsiders like Devon, on the other hand, are marked by their grungy combat boots, tattoos, and heavy eyeliner.
—Elise Taylor, Vogue, 23 May 2025
There was this beautiful, really fun, cheap, grungy rehearsal studio in Culver City called Exposition Studios.
—Michelle Woo, Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2025
Rothman shepherded Teitelbaum’s rebrand, helping to realign her sound in a way that more authentically reflected her taste — retaining the dark tint of her Baum output, but grounding it in grungy live instruments instead of synths.
—Olivia Horn, New York Times, 29 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for grungy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grungy
Adjective
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These words are so filthy, even 40 years later, that Tribune editors will only allow an edited version to be included here.—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
11 July 2025
-
The girl is so filthy that just one look at her gets across the idea that this lifestyle is repellent.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
10 July 2025
Adjective
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Now, as soon as next year, the historic campus will transform into housing with 213 apartments as the city's Department of Metropolitan Development and private developers redevelop dilapidated buildings downtown into residential and commercial spaces.—
Alysa Guffey,
IndyStar,
2 July 2025
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But Spencer said replacing old, dilapidated buildings with newer ones could also put the district in a better position to compete with charter schools.—
Silas Allen,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
26 June 2025
Adjective
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Tim Petrillo, one of the developers behind the $500 million project, donned a hard hat on a sweltering Tuesday and peered out at the dusty construction site at Northwest First Avenue, just north of Northwest Fifth Street.—
Susannah Bryan,
Sun Sentinel,
14 July 2025
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Jameson had a customer who turned his dusty garage into a workshop by running extension cords along the floor to a workbench.—
The Washington Post,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
12 July 2025
Adjective
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But its location in the neglected and overgrown space remains a mystery.—
Laura L. Davis,
The Tennessean,
2 July 2025
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What’s a neglected part of your ME—your health, learning, or joy?—
Nell Derick Debevoise,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
Adjective
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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
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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
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Environmentalists and labor rights activists have complained that China's graphite mining and production is dirty and dangerous.—
Rick Barrett,
jsonline.com,
7 July 2025
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Employees get their hands dirty in the intro course by learning how to prompt, then move to more advanced courses on building custom GPTs and agents.—
Melissa Daimler,
Forbes.com,
7 July 2025
Adjective
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Fucci, who was staying near the Guadalupe River, filmed on her phone a torrent of muddy water flooding the road to her grandmother's house.—
Susan Miller,
USA Today,
6 July 2025
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Navy blue and sage green have become go-to choices but are losing their charm; opt for moody hues like muddy green, rust, or confident forest green instead.—
Tessa Cooper,
Southern Living,
5 July 2025
Adjective
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Tempest’s description evokes a dreamlike horror, laced with black humor: Men were still stuck in the mud all over the battlefield, imploring help to lift them out : half crazy with the sense of their own impotence, and the enemy shelling. . . .—
Ed Caesar,
New Yorker,
13 July 2025
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Police say White was abducted at gunpoint from outside his residence July 11 and placed into a white Jeep Renegade by an unknown man in a black face mask.—
Madeline Heim,
jsonline.com,
13 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Grungy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grungy. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
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