1
as in filthy
not clean
after playing outside, the kids came in grungy and in need of a good bath
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of grungy
Chu loves hyperrealism or using an ombré effect to mimic dirt, giving it a grungy feel.
—
Diana Tsui, Footwear News, 15 May 2026
Dark, dim, and a little grungy, with its scuffed checkerboard floors, worn old couches, peeling walls, and chalkboard menus, La Factoria feels like a clandestine underground speakeasy.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 May 2026
Nowadays, old-school residents bemoan the neighborhood’s evolution from grungy to grandiose; what was once a warren of hedonism has become a breeding ground for characterless watering holes whose lack of personality is bested only by the exorbitance of their beer prices.
—Dan Stahl, New Yorker, 1 May 2026
Where artists like OsamaSon or Che might choose a beat with a grungy preset, ezcodylee made electric guitar riffs the backbone of his 2025 full-length Stunt and Die 3.
—Vivian Medithi, Pitchfork, 15 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for grungy
Diana Tsui, Footwear News, 15 May 2026
Dark, dim, and a little grungy, with its scuffed checkerboard floors, worn old couches, peeling walls, and chalkboard menus, La Factoria feels like a clandestine underground speakeasy.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 May 2026
Nowadays, old-school residents bemoan the neighborhood’s evolution from grungy to grandiose; what was once a warren of hedonism has become a breeding ground for characterless watering holes whose lack of personality is bested only by the exorbitance of their beer prices.
—Dan Stahl, New Yorker, 1 May 2026
Where artists like OsamaSon or Che might choose a beat with a grungy preset, ezcodylee made electric guitar riffs the backbone of his 2025 full-length Stunt and Die 3.
—Vivian Medithi, Pitchfork, 15 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for grungy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grungy
Adjective
-
The president had complained about filthy water and a leaking foundation, according to previous USA TODAY reporting.—
Michelle Del Rey,
USA Today,
3 June 2026
-
And some of the best evidence of the lovebugs’ comeback came last week at the Turkey Lake Service Plaza on Florida’s Turnpike, where filthy, splattered cars and trucks queued up before the plaza’s automatic windshield washer.—
Martin E. Comas,
The Orlando Sentinel,
27 May 2026
Adjective
-
Here cavernous sheet-metal market halls rub shoulders with dilapidated clapboard stores.—
Duncan Madden,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
-
The Urban Institute detailed in 2024 how declining government funding for public spaces had left many dilapidated and underutilized, or privatized and no longer free.—
Tristan Bove,
Fortune,
26 May 2026
Adjective
-
The other factor is June usually has a lot of dry dusty air that crosses the Atlantic from Africa.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
6 June 2026
-
Les Airelles Courchevel’s Hans Anderson details were crafted in the 1990s, avoiding the cold corridors and austere, dusty libraries of centuries-old country houses.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
4 June 2026
Adjective
-
Underdog startups and neglected divisions tell similar stories.—
Steve Denning,
Forbes.com,
13 May 2026
-
Cinematographer Guillermo Garza shoots neglected settings like fine art, embracing the grime.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The land, unfenced, abuts a bald blackened hillside that must be public land.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Aug. 2025
-
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
Adjective
-
My father was running the skid steer outside, clearing the snow, leaving dirty white mounds to either side of the driveway that led from the house out to the range road.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 June 2026
-
Workers have told us that even wiping sweat from their face can be criticized because supervisors worry about the garment getting dirty.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Footwear News,
2 June 2026
Adjective
-
The frame structures already standing would hold stained glass in the finished church for a congregation that formed in the 1890s.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
2 June 2026
-
Sprinkle borax into the toilet bowl, focusing on stained areas.—
Louise Parks,
Martha Stewart,
2 June 2026
Adjective
-
Her muddy blond hair, on the other hand, found middle ground between the hyper-trendy wet look and the classic straight hair tuck, featuring loose, sleek waves courtesy of stylist Laini Reeves.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
4 June 2026
-
The rescue team was able to pump enough water out of the system for four miners to crawl out of the muddy abyss on Saturday, authorities said.—
Aicha El Hammar Castano,
ABC News,
3 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Grungy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grungy. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
