1
as in filthy
not clean
clean off those grubby hands before you touch anything
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in dirty
arousing or deserving of one's loathing and disgust
that's a grubby reason to stop talking to a friend
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Recent Examples of grubby
The lightweight frames, adjustable nose pads and grubby temple pads make this Zunnies collection super comfortable for a list of different activities but are particularly helpful for runners.
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Kasey Caminiti, USA TODAY, 21 Nov. 2024
Photo: Adrian Nina Ormerod’s splash of pink tulle reflects a wider trend for tinted veils that has proliferated in alternative corners of the Western wedding sphere, where women aren’t robbed of £50 for a warm glass of Prosecco and the privilege of wriggling into a grubby one-size-fits-all sample.
—Alice Newbold, Vogue, 4 Nov. 2024
Heaven help the grubby finger that even attempts to graze their wings.
—Goth Shakira, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2024
The actors aren’t grubby or sweaty, and their clothes are neatly pressed.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 12 Feb. 2024
See all Example Sentences for grubby 
Kasey Caminiti, USA TODAY, 21 Nov. 2024
Photo: Adrian Nina Ormerod’s splash of pink tulle reflects a wider trend for tinted veils that has proliferated in alternative corners of the Western wedding sphere, where women aren’t robbed of £50 for a warm glass of Prosecco and the privilege of wriggling into a grubby one-size-fits-all sample.
—Alice Newbold, Vogue, 4 Nov. 2024
Heaven help the grubby finger that even attempts to graze their wings.
—Goth Shakira, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2024
The actors aren’t grubby or sweaty, and their clothes are neatly pressed.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 12 Feb. 2024
See all Example Sentences for grubby
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grubby
Adjective
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In the earlier seasons of the show, characters were often filthy, caked with dirt and blood, clothes tattered.Erik Kain, Forbes, 11 Jan. 2025
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My father was living alone in that dark, filthy room like an old animal wallowing in its own excrement.Lee Chang-dong, The New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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This set also comes with a shoe bag that has two compartments and can double as a laundry bag for dirty clothes during your trip.Rachel Trujillo, Travel + Leisure, 8 Jan. 2025
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Rafael takes the fall for the murder, but only after the real killer — likely a dirty cop — kidnaps his daughter Sunny.Ryan Schwartz, TVLine, 7 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Other members of the gang include Charlie’s younger sister, the bothersome Sally; kind Franklin and musical Schroeder; sporty Peppermint Patty and respectful Marcie; dusty Pigpen and the loyal bird Woodstock.Alice George, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 Jan. 2025
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So, pack your suitcase, open up that dusty atlas that’s been sitting on your bookshelf — untouched — and prepare to take a trip around the world with these place names for girls!Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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The 25-year-old is cheap, still a season away from salary arbitration eligibility, also plays the corner outfield spots, and won’t be a free agent until after the 2028 season.Brendan Kuty, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025
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New England legislators and regulators consistently blocked building additional pipelines from the Marcellus Shale in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and other regions in the U.S. and Canada, which could bring cheap, onshore natural gas to replace fuel oil.Ariel Cohen, Forbes, 9 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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As holidays go, however, Flag Day can feel a bit lame.Kevin Fisher-Paulson, San Francisco Chronicle, 8 June 2021
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My 11-year-old loved watching the pups roll balls and play a giant floor piano, but for non-dog owners (guilty as charged), parts of the series—like dressing dogs in little hats and outfits for a Parisian fashion show—feel lame.Tim Neville, Outside Online, 23 Nov. 2020
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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Perhaps this weekend can be a get-right game against the pitiful New York Jets, but there’s not much to be excited about.Fox News Staff, Fox News, 13 Nov. 2024
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Mercifully, Newcastle came up against a Leicester side whose setup under Ruud van Nistelrooy was as naive as their defensive performance was pitiful.Chris Waugh, The Athletic, 16 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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My first game was 1976 when a sublime Peter Taylor free kick beat an unrecognisable Chelsea at a very muddy and different Stamford Bridge.The Athletic UK Staff, The Athletic, 7 Jan. 2025
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Think deep plums with muddy undertones, like BEHR’s 2025 Color of the Year, Rumors.Cyndy Aldred, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Jan. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Grubby.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grubby. Accessed 19 Jan. 2025.
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