1
as in filthy
not clean
clean off those grubby hands before you touch anything
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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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.
—
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
-
This was to help end the puppy mill industry, where dogs are bred en masse, leading them to be born and raised in filthy and neglected conditions.—
Andrew Sheeler,
Sacramento Bee,
12 Feb. 2025
-
The boys all came home, filthy and with unbrushed teeth.—
Marla Jo Fisher,
Orange County Register,
5 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Surrounded by plenty of enemies, political and otherwise, the husband and wife have no choice but to get their hands dirty in order to save their son.—
Borys Kit,
The Hollywood Reporter,
10 Feb. 2025
-
Evans recommends carving out some time to complete tasks like returning dirty dishes or mugs from elsewhere in the house to the sink.—
Sarah Lyon,
Southern Living,
9 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
The landscape is filled with dusty mountains, misty horizons, and, sometimes, desolate and dead hills.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
31 Jan. 2025
-
The new formal name, Cherax pulverulentus, means dusty crayfish in Latin, in homage to the crustacean’s dotted exoskeleton.—
Margherita Bassi,
Smithsonian Magazine,
15 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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For example, new builds are cheaper than existing homes in Austin, Texas, where builders have cranked out more (relatively) affordable inventory.—
Brianna Crane,
Axios,
13 Feb. 2025
-
Also, when compared to active mutual funds, with an average fee of 1.02%, active ETFs are relatively cheaper.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
13 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
As holidays go, however, Flag Day can feel a bit lame.—
Kevin Fisher-Paulson,
San Francisco Chronicle,
8 June 2021
-
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
-
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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Who knew that banning books, paying teachers pitiful salaries and threatening them with jail if they were caught with salacious book titles would be the holy grail of student success?—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
11 Feb. 2025
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Who knew that banning books, paying teachers pitiful salaries and threatening them with jail if they were caught with salacious book titles would be the holy grail of student success.—
Letters to the Editor,
Orlando Sentinel,
6 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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After selling out every home game in their brand new 11,500-seat stadium on the muddy Missouri River, The Kansas City Current made it to the semifinals before being forced to watch Orlando and Washington duke it out in their new home for the National Women’s Soccer League championship.—
Megan Schrader,
The Denver Post,
9 Feb. 2025
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Many of the encampments at colleges across Chicago were eventually dismantled by police, leaving lawn chairs and colorful student artwork dotting the muddy grass of campus quads.—
Nell Salzman,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Feb. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Grubby.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grubby. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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