as in filthy
not clean
get rid of that grotty old rag
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Recent Examples of grotty
The assault took place on the grottiest of vessels, manned by violent criminals who had been banished into deep space.
—
Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 28 Feb. 2025
In a stark contrast to its predecessor, the pop star’s EP tracks chronicled the sordid and grotty bits of celebrity.
—Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 19 Feb. 2025
Bloober has translated the past as one might a literary classic, illuminating and modernizing the grottiest game to ever grace the PlayStation 2.
—Lewis Gordon, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2024
If Kline’s filmmaking seems to wear its grotty realism on its sleeve, his plotting has a shambling, anything-goes playfulness.
—Justin Chang, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2022
The closest match to the Grand Old Opry is Magic City, the famed strip club at the grotty end of south downtown.
—George Chidi, Rolling Stone, 8 Sep. 2022
The film is the story of Robert (Daniel Zolghadri), who wants to reject the suburban comforts of his upbringing for a grotty world as an aspiring underground cartoonist.
—Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2022
To impress her office crush Colin (Dylan O’Brien), a callow pothead-turned-globe-trotting influencer with a grotty Pete Davidson-esque charisma, Danni concocts a phony invitation to a writers retreat in Paris.
—Amy Nicholson, Variety, 20 July 2022
Operative all along hasn’t been Russia’s historical and geographic imperatives, but the grotty nature of the current regime.
—WSJ, 1 Mar. 2022
Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 28 Feb. 2025
In a stark contrast to its predecessor, the pop star’s EP tracks chronicled the sordid and grotty bits of celebrity.
—Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 19 Feb. 2025
Bloober has translated the past as one might a literary classic, illuminating and modernizing the grottiest game to ever grace the PlayStation 2.
—Lewis Gordon, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2024
If Kline’s filmmaking seems to wear its grotty realism on its sleeve, his plotting has a shambling, anything-goes playfulness.
—Justin Chang, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2022
The closest match to the Grand Old Opry is Magic City, the famed strip club at the grotty end of south downtown.
—George Chidi, Rolling Stone, 8 Sep. 2022
The film is the story of Robert (Daniel Zolghadri), who wants to reject the suburban comforts of his upbringing for a grotty world as an aspiring underground cartoonist.
—Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2022
To impress her office crush Colin (Dylan O’Brien), a callow pothead-turned-globe-trotting influencer with a grotty Pete Davidson-esque charisma, Danni concocts a phony invitation to a writers retreat in Paris.
—Amy Nicholson, Variety, 20 July 2022
Operative all along hasn’t been Russia’s historical and geographic imperatives, but the grotty nature of the current regime.
—WSJ, 1 Mar. 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grotty
Adjective
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In early modern Europe, the filthiest trades (such as tanning) were branded nuisances and forced out of cities and closer to those living at society’s margins.—
Scott W. Stern,
The Atlantic,
10 Mar. 2025
-
The beat is straight up filthy, as are the lyrics, written from the point of view of a seductress who is simultaneously a literal murderer.—
James Factora,
Them,
7 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Its head is outfitted with LED lights that illuminate dark, dusty areas.—
Isabel Garcia,
People.com,
16 Mar. 2025
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For a piece in this week’s issue, Helfand speaks with all parties involved, and even visits Elvis in his current resting place, amid dusty knickknacks and towering piles of junk in an office behind a mechanic’s garage.—
Hannah Jocelyn,
The New Yorker,
14 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Palestinian families who had returned to live among the ruins of the devastated neighborhood during the ceasefire once again fled, piling mattresses and belongings on donkey carts and escaping on muddy roads.—
Daniel Estrin,
NPR,
20 Mar. 2025
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Tidy up all those tight spaces—tub seals, sink drains, car vents—or spiff up a pair of muddy sneakers.—
Ella Field,
Better Homes & Gardens,
18 Mar. 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
-
Every Look from the 2025 Oscars Red Carpet By Vogue Based on Court of Honor, William P. Wood’s 1991 legal thriller, this Turner Network Television original movie finds Tom Selleck playing a municipal judge who pitches in to help with a government sting operation focused on nailing a dirty judge.—
Nell Beram,
Vogue,
8 Mar. 2025
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More likely, a veteran like Hill or Ford or any number of others — guys who have played a lot and know how to get the dirty work done — could fit.—
Parker Gabriel,
The Denver Post,
7 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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And then, to top a nasty joke with a nastier one, he was deemed useless for the final twenty years of his life.—
Jackson Arn,
The New Yorker,
10 Mar. 2025
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That jab opened up several nasty cuts around Rountree's eye and on the bridge of his nose.—
Trent Reinsmith,
Forbes,
8 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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For some die-hard devotees, the actress’s Colombian heritage disqualified her from playing the fantasy princess, described as having hair as black as ebony and skin as white as snow.—
Katcy Stephan,
Variety,
15 Mar. 2025
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After signing autographs and posing for photos at O’Hare, Blagojevich landed in Denver and then hopped into a black SUV with two of his attorneys to report to the prison — with a camera-toting helicopter tracking his movement and the image streamed live on TV websites.—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Grotty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grotty. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.
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