grungy

adjective

grun·​gy ˈgrən-jē 

grungier; grungiest

1

: shabby or dirty in character or condition

2

: characteristic of grunge music or fashion

Synonyms

• bedraggled
• befouled
• begrimed
• bemired
• besmirched
• black
• blackened
• cruddy
• dingy
• dirty
• draggled
• dusty
• filthy
• foul
• grimy
• grotty [chiefly British]
• grubby
• mucky
• muddy
• nasty
• smudged
• smutty
• soiled
• sordid
• stained
• sullied
• unclean
• uncleanly

Examples of grungy in a Sentence

After working in the garden all day, I felt sweaty and grungy.

a grungy pair of jeans

Recent Examples on the Web

There seemed to be a split reaction from fans on social media as some wanted to hear the grungy track while others trusted Tyler’s vision. —Michael Saponara, Billboard, 24 Mar. 2025

Alexa Chung and Kate Moss were regulars on and off the fall 2025 runways, and the season embraced the return of grungy animal prints, black leather, and the ubiquitous McQueen skull motif. —Christian Allaire, Vogue, 20 Mar. 2025

Slouchy fits with grungy washes were embellished with baubles, distressing and color contrasting patchwork. —Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 7 Mar. 2025

Sharpen it to a thumb-tack taper for sharp lines, or keep it blunt for a grungy, lived-in smudge tons of color payoff. —Annie Blackman, Allure, 7 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

origin unknown

First Known Use

1965, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for grungy

• bungee
• spongy

Kids Definition

grungy

adjective

grun·​gy ˈgrən-jē 

grungier; grungiest

: being in a shabby or dirty condition